Compass Box Experimental Grain

Whisky lore states there are only five types: Single Malt, Single Grain, Blended Malt, Blended Grain, and Blended Whisky. However, have you ever encountered or sampled a Blended Grain? Compass Box essentially pioneered this category with their well-known Hedonism, and they've largely been the sole creators. One might argue there's no real need for blended grains, as Single Grain is often seen as lesser than single malts. I am aware of one blended grain not from Compass Box, though: Ballantine's Vitality. Compass Box has now introduced their latest grain blend, "Experimental Grain." It's composed of whiskies from Loch Lomond, Cameronbridge, North British, and a portion of Hedonism. It presents a pale color and is 46% ABV. As usual, their marketing is excellent; the bottle and packaging are quite attractive. On the nose, it begins with notes of school glue, watermelon, plastic, artificial vanilla, and hairspray. This conjured childhood memories, smelling exactly like an 80s He-Man action figure, the moss/grass character. After an initial taste, an aroma reminiscent of a barber shop emerged, with some citrus and chocolate. There are also notes of yeast, vanilla, and hand sanitizer alcohol. On the palate, expect vanilla ice cream, rum and raisins, and metallic undertones. It also has hints of dulce de leche and chili sauce. It's genuinely, remarkably good. The finish was my least favorite aspect. It had metallic, oxidative notes, like licking a penny, along with cardamom and iodine. To be truthful, this exceeded my expectations significantly. I was surprised by the quality of the palate; the nose is quite intricate, and the finish isn't unpleasant at all. It's a truly respectable whisky, offering excellent value only for collectors, not for everyday purchase, earning a score of 85 out of 100 from me.

Let the Compass Box journey continue! I'm rapidly becoming a devoted Compass Box follower and recently managed to acquire Experimental Grain and Juveniles at a fantastic price. The aroma on this whisky is so subtle it's almost imperceptible. Honey and toffee initiate the scent, followed by a wave of creamy sweetness. Deeper within, some apples and pears mingle, and at the very end, just the faintest hint of peat smoke. If the taste matches the aroma, it's going to be remarkable. This tastes unlike any whisky I've ever experienced. Sweet and tart apple is the dominant flavor, but it then blends with milk chocolate. There's an unusual, earthy, grassy mix in the flavor profile that I've never encountered in any other whisky. The taste concludes with the slightest touch of peat smoke. Through the puff of peat smoke, the finish becomes spicy, which wasn't what I anticipated. It's moderately long and drier than the taste, but not packed with complexity. This is the first whisky I ever sampled and was left pondering my thoughts on it. I'm now on my fifth tasting and still can't decide if I like it. It belongs to a rare group of whiskies that taste completely unique, sharing rarified air with expressions like Compass Box Hedonism and Green Spot, to name a couple. This whisky is light, whimsical, and sweet. You know what? I think I DO enjoy it, just not quite as much as Hedonism. But I can definitely tell this would be a highly divisive whisky.

My apologies, I just realized I hadn't shared my notes on this one. To be upfront, I'm somewhat of a fan of Compass Box grain whisky, but this particular one is a bit unusual. It actually contains 31% of an 11-year-old peated single malt, which must be labeled as grain because it uses a column still instead of a pot still. The absurdity of scotch whisky regulations. Nose - Smells like cotton swabs, with fruits and a hint of smoke... unique. Mint is emerging now, along with white chocolate, fudge, cinnamon spice, and more fudge. Taste - Mint, citrus, chocolate, vanilla, cinnamon... layers of complexity with significant depth. A touch of smoke. This reminds me of a vanilla-forward version of something like Nikka from the Barrel, but with even more complexity and age. Yes, that fruity element combined with the smoke and vanilla is excellent. Adding water brings out some nutty notes and seems to introduce additional nuances. Yes, it's a good whisky. I'm giving it a 3.00. I could go higher, but I'll be conservative.

Nose: Quite well-balanced and pleasant, with light tropical fruit (melon), a noticeable grain character in the spirit, and a bright vanilla sweetness. After a short while, a very subtle earthy smoke appears. Not intensely complex, but enjoyable (20/25) Taste: Light on the tongue, with flavors settling in the mid-palate and minimal oiliness. It's good, tasting almost Irish with prominent vanilla chewiness upfront, balanced by wood spice. Simple and flavorful (21/25) Finish: The finish is all about the grain, likely my favorite aspect, featuring melon fruit, caramel, and vanilla again, with a touch of heat. The flavors mingle here, creating an effervescent grain effect. Enjoyable (22/25) Balance: Good balance for a grain spirit, not overly dominated by vanilla or sweet floral notes, with more fruit and oak spice providing a nice counterpoint. (22/25) (83/100 - For comparison, Glenmorangie 10 scores 84/100) I recommend trying it, but it's not something I'd purchase.

4.0 stars - Excellent; 750 ml bottle This one falls on the pleasing side of surprising and unusual. My philosophy for Compass Box is: Always good, never dull, and entirely truthful. This whisky perfectly represents that idea. I'll leave the debate about the price to the reader. The flavor is all cinnamon and vanilla whipped cream. This is not at all what I anticipated. Yet, I found myself returning to this whisky, night after night for a couple of months. Often, the novelty was refreshing after more familiar pours. With time, the cinnamon note mellows, and there's the slightest hint of smoke and oak.

My initial encounter with Experimental Grain, a peated, column-distilled spirit from Loch Lomond, was not auspicious. My nose detected random notes of raspberry effervescent tablets, pinewood, and mossy vegetation, interspersed with smoldering wood, herbs, and a faint honey scent. On the palate, vanilla, cinnamon, and banana contended with developing peat smoke, fresh mint, and bitter orange. Whipped cream, milk chocolate, and tannins characterized the drying finish. Like a clandestine agent operating under a false identity, Hedonism's alternate persona remains enigmatic, perplexing, and intriguingly captivating. RATING: 3.5/5.0 stars ≙ 84 pts → ABOVE AVERAGE