Compass Box Hedonism Felicitas

Consumed neat from a sample. My first experience with Compass Box! The aroma is exceptionally rich and surprising, with a significant oak presence and hints of chocolate, nougat, blueberries, salted caramel pretzel, popcorn kernels, and apples. It possesses fantastic depth, and I quite enjoy the nose. The mouthfeel is delightfully viscous, coating the palate well. It starts light and bright with cinnamon and apple, plus a touch of salt. It rapidly develops into a flavor explosion mid-palate, with the brightness surging forward, leaving a delicious salted caramel in its wake. The pretzel and blueberry notes also come through. The finish is very bourbon-like, with caramel, oak, vanilla, and apple. There's also a wine-like quality to the finish that adds a drying sensation, though it's not unpleasant. This is delicious. It's a scotch perfect for bourbon enthusiasts, given the proof, flavors, and finish. I might even believe it was a finished bourbon if told so. The finish is still lingering as I write this. I'm thoroughly impressed by this sample and will purchase a bottle if I encounter one.

I've been working on this for a while, so I'll do my best. Aroma: Typical grain notes with abundant vanilla, grain, grape, and a touch of dark fruit. Also some richer creaminess and alcohol. Palate: Again, grain, classic grain scotch. Plenty of rich, creamy, buttery vanilla desserts. Definitely tastes like pastry crust. Then there are some metallic notes on the finish. The initial taste is very soft and sweet. The finish introduces some chocolate and chewy nugget flavors. It's a clean, light white chocolate note. So, this is reasonably aged for scotch, but for a grain blend, it's acceptable. It's a significant improvement over the standard offering, but I'm still rating it a 2.0. I won't buy it again. I like it enough, but it's pretty average overall and the price is bad. I understand why some are bigger fans, and if you enjoy grain spirits, you should try it. I prefer "The Muse" much more; it's significantly richer and better crafted. I rated that a 3.0, which might be low, but this doesn't come close.

Another excellent blend of whiskies from the Scotch maker, Compass Box. This blended grain contains components distilled over three different decades from the Strathclyde, North British, and Port Dundas distilleries. Bourbon and sherry cask aging result in a delightful and intricate spirit, which is non-chill filtered and bottled at a substantial 106 proof. It has a varnish-like and floral aroma, followed by a palate full of creamy vanilla, toffee, orchard fruits, and spices. Compass Box continues to redefine the perception of the world's finest whiskies.

I'm uncertain why the expert reviewers assigned this dram a low score. This beverage exemplifies what many consider a sophisticated drink. Imagine Hedonism, but with its edges refined and a more robust character. Acquire it while you can.

Nose: Significant heat, cinnamon, red hots Palate: Very subtle floral notes, yet distinct. Perhaps some pecan flavor Finish: A long, smooth, sweet finish with green tea notes.

Tastes like malted chocolate milk, with flavors amplified compared to regular Hedonism.