Compass Box Juveniles

As I poured a measure of Juveniles, I heard a peculiar tinkling sound. At first, I thought it was someone walking their dog outside, but then I realized it was coming from the base of the bottle. Inside the bottle is an integrated recess containing a small jingle bell. How delightful! Now, regarding the whisky: Immediately, I detect bright notes on the aroma. Honey, green apples, and pears are prominent, bringing a mix of sweetness and tartness. The end of the finish becomes drier, with a touch of tannic oak and grass. On the palate, the wine cask is immediately apparent, but not in the form of tart red fruits. Instead, it's a bright and acidic blend of green apples and pears. Swirling the whisky in your mouth reveals sweet vanilla and honey on the inside of your lips. The latter part of the taste introduces some tannic charred oak. The finish pushes the whisky firmly into the "dry" category, again presenting tannic charred oak with black pepper and tingling baking spices. Remember those apples and pears from the initial taste? If you wait until the very end of the finish, you can catch a hint of them as this whisky departs. While not my absolute favorite, if nothing else; Compass Box always provides an interesting experience, especially their limited editions. If you can still find a bottle of Juveniles, try it!

This producer is a favorite. I pretty much love everything I’ve tried from them. This bottling is no different. The bottle is a bit gimmicky – I could do without the bell underneath but I suppose that makes it unique?. The bottle is also sealed with White Wax – something you don’t see much of in the scotch world. This is made up of 4 malts. Smelling this is quite nice, honey and crisp apples. Very light, waxy and fruity. Tasting neat is a blast of vanilla and sweet candies, with orange creamsicle and some light soft fruits. Much like the smell this is pleasant and delivers what was expected from the smell. Tasting with water brings out more of the tart green apples and less of the vanilla. The finish is a bit short but the green apple is there the entire time. Overall, I really like this. It’s sweet, more of an after-dinner dessert drink in my opinion but very nicely done. Not sure it’s worth the $130 price tag but the whisky itself is nice. Good thing I didn’t purchase this at that price, it was a gift from my wife….oh wait...I did purchase at this price. Ouch! Overall Grade: B

This was quite pleasing. A straightforward spirit with a light, airy character that effectively presents its vanilla essence. I'm wavering between a 3.5 and 3.75. I lean towards 3.5 for its simplicity, but 3.75 for its exceptionally balanced and complete execution of that simplicity. Initially, I rated it 3.75, especially after the poorly made Tomatin 18, which seemed to disregard the spirit's inherent qualities. However, it became a bit dull later on, and considering the cost, I settled on 3.5. Yet, after evaluating all the spirits tasted that day, this ranked second or third, prompting a return to 3.75. Interestingly, its value proposition was terrible at £100, a total overcharge. It seems others agreed, as it's now reduced by a third to £65 at MoM. This suggests the craft beer bubble, or perhaps the whiskey market in general, is due for a correction, and frankly, it's about time. It brings to mind certain tales about people being caught unprepared when circumstances change and about unrecognized truths (while the direct lesson of those stories might not fit overpriced, status-driven whiskeys, the underlying message feels relevant:-))

This producer is famous for creating special bottlings for important whisky bars and restaurants around the world. This is the case for "Juveniles", a wonderful looking bottle, which actually has a bell on the bottom. Juveniles is actually a Parisian "Bistrot  Vins" that was honored by this bottle. This is a blended malt made from four distilleries, with a 46% abv. On the nose: Pineapple and meringue. Sawdust, gooseberries, very fresh. Spongy cake. On the palate, it mirrors the same notes. Pineapple and beautiful meringue. Sugary notes. Meringue candies. Acidity. Cotton candy. Aftertaste is very sugary. Sugar with milk. Creamy pineapple. Overall, this was a truly enjoyable bottling. Soooo easy to drink, very sweet and citric. This one is a dangerous dram, since I feel that I can have a full bottle without much hesitation. My score for it is 92 out of 100, which is very surprising for a moderately priced bottling from this producer.

(The Good Spirits Company, Glasgow - Virtual Whisky Tasting, Friday 14th August 2020) I appreciate Compass Box's openness. Although current regulations prevent them from listing the blend's composition on the bottle, a quick online search reveals what you're consuming. I would have liked to see the ages, but that's a minor concern. Strathmill, refill hogshead: 34% Balmenach, refill hogshead: 34% Clynelish, re-charred hogsheads: 20% Clynelish, refill sherry butt: 10% Glendullan, first fill sherry butt: 2% Nose: Strong bourbon character. Fruity and vanilla. Palate: A bit 'hot' on the initial sip but quickly settles into the primary flavors. Clean and fruity (pears), with some light oak. Finish: Short finish. Creamy, malty (Horlicks). Salty and herbal right at the very end. This has a pleasant texture. It's a smooth, easily drinkable blended malt. This tied for third place among the six whiskies tasted, receiving 10% of the votes for favorite.

The pace at which Compass Box creates whiskies for specific restaurants or stores makes me think individual customers might soon be able to order personalized blends, much like designing shoes or suits online. I'd personally love a funky aroma with a nutty, smoky body and a hint of sherry on the finish. While that's not what the Juvenile restaurant requested for this bottling, it's another pleasing creation from John Glaser. The nose offers bright, floral scents like a spring day, leading to malty, rich cream, and milky tea flavors on the palate. The finish is robust with caramel and a kick of red pepper. It's another dependable Compass Box offering, superior to some of the less impressive ones, but not outstanding enough for my top ten. It's worth a taste, though I'd hesitate to purchase a full bottle given the cost.