Compass Box Eleuthera

Nose: A fresh, abundant scent of sharp peat smoke. Hints of lemon oil and bacon, with burnt matches and soot. Salty notes are present, but more like preserved olives or lemon slices than sea salt. A whisper of seaweed/iodine and a faint flinty, mineral note. It's an invigorating and bracing aroma, like a coastal walk on an early morning in Scotland, with wildflowers carried on the wind. After resting, it opened up, revealing aromas of tropical fruit and waxy honey shimmering through the peat. [The empty glass smells of honeyed soot and ash]. Palate: The initial taste is excellent and intricate. Semi-sweet, fresh, with complex, developing smoky flavors and a warm, spicy/herbal touch (nutmeg and sweet cinnamon stand out). The Clynelish component clearly is evident on the palate, breaking through the Caol Ila smoke. Mid-palate brings more smoky notes, this time with a savory character - bacon, smoked cod, smoked roe - yet it maintains a dignified and refined quality. Lovely sweet tropical fruits and honey from the wax comb also emerge later, with these sweet notes becoming more pronounced as the whisky sits. The texture is rich, silky, creamy, and slightly oily. Finish: Long. Slightly mineral and vegetal, but always delicately smoky. There's a sweet, waxy, smoky aftertaste that is quite beautiful and lasts a long time, with a tiny hint of salt. Eleuthera, meaning "freedom" in ancient Greek, was an fitting name for the first blended malt from Compass Box. It was available from 2001-2003 and combined 15-year-old Clynelish with 12-year-old Caol Ila. The creator clearly recognized the potential of this recipe, as both distilleries have appeared in his later blends. When the irreplaceable old Clynelish component became unavailable, this excellent whisky was discontinued, but later echoed in the "The Lost Blend" bottling, a tribute to this whisky. While not identical, the two are similar. The nose initially strongly resembles a Caol Ila aroma, similar to the official 12-year-old bottling. It was reserved when first opened, having been sealed in the bottle for a long time, and needed an hour to relax. Nevertheless, it was highly impressive from the beginning and only got better with time. As it rested and opened, it grew progressively sweeter and fruitier, with the sharper lemon notes fading as the Clynelish character began to dominate the Caol Ila. The palate is a triumph of precise blending - the creator was taking a significant risk with his debut release and needed to make a significant impact, which he achieved beyond all expectations - likely even his own. This is a delicious palate that unfolds in stages and layers, much like a very old whisky, presenting shifting flavors over time. The palate transitions smoothly into the finish, which possesses considerable length, body, and finesse. Do not add water - this is perfect neat. I was fortunate to discover this bottle at a small independent shop some time ago, but it is now scarce, costly, and most likely only available through auction. However, if you can find a bottle at a price you deem reasonable, I would suggest purchasing it, as it represents a piece of history and is well worth sampling. "Excellent": 88/100 (4.5 stars)

In the year 2000, a gentleman residing in the UK left his position at Johnnie Walker due to dissatisfaction with Diageo's secrecy regarding their blend compositions. He established a company, appointed himself Whiskymaker, and Compass Box was founded. His initial blend, COMPASS BOX ELEUTHERA, a combination of Caol Ila and a 15-year-old Clynelish, was created in his kitchen. Eleuthera, named after the Greek word for 'freedom,' reflected his core principle of complete openness about his whisky blends. The 15-year-old malt ceased production in 2004, and Eleuthera vanished. Compass Box rose to prominence in the blended Scotch market, but Eleuthera never returned, although a tribute appeared as 'the Lost Blend.' I have managed to acquire a bottle of the original Eleuthera and offer my impressions. Bottled at 46% ABV with a pale straw color. The initial aroma was striking: green, tart gooseberries, mango, and an ashtray note. After some tasting, it strongly evoked a fish market, lemon meringue, fish, lemon pie, and a glazed donut. The palate is quite salty and enjoyable, featuring creamy vanilla and gooseberries. A powerful saltiness is present, along with meringue and salty meat. The aftertaste is remarkable: peppery, sulphurous, and pleasantly salty. Gooseberries are present, and all notes are well-balanced. It has a very astringent quality and a metallic hint, like a coin. In summary, reflecting on the intentions of the creator in 2000, it was a successful blend of Highland and Islay malts. This is a very good whisky. While it now fetches around $1000 if found, its original retail price of approximately $90 was an exceptional value. My rating for this legendary dram, rich with history, is a well-earned 89 out of 100. Perhaps my score is slightly conservative, as my companions rated it 92 out of 100. I will maintain my assessment.

A slight letdown, it lacks structure. Nice peat, but a bit bland.