Compass Box Myths & Legends III

I've had one exceptional whisky. It's in a visually appealing bottle, and I don't want it to be finished. If you've seen some of my reviews of certain brands, you might know they often fall short of my expectations, which are built up by their impressive marketing. However, that's not the case this time. I purchased this bottle because I was hosting a tasting event called 'Legendary Whiskies' featuring some truly outstanding spirits, like the magnificent Glendronach 18yo. I gave this Myths And Legends III to 23 individuals, and I now fully regret it. Myths & Legends is a three-bottle collection from Compass Box; the first two are essentially Single Malts, as all the whiskies in the 'blend' originate from the same distillery, Glen Elgin. The actual reason I chose this one is that it's a blended malt comprising some Glen Elgins, a Highland Park 23yo, and a Caol Ila 15yo finished in sherry casks, giving it a peaty character. Bottled at 46% ABV, it has the most attractive bottle ever, adorned with a minotaur, and possesses a burnished gold color. On the nose, it's perfection. Oranges and lime with a wonderful smokiness. Like a fruit salad, very tropical. It also has notes of glue, peaches, and silicon. After the second sip, it evoked beach aromas, sand, and salt. Then pineapple and vanilla. After the third sip, it reminded me of damp clothes and socks. Truly amazing stuff. On the palate, it seems to serve merely as a transition to a fantastic aftertaste. Flavors of orange peel, chocolate cake, and grapefruit are present. The aftertaste is incredible, peaty yet very pleasant. Hints of salt and sulfur. The peat is almost chewable, grassy. Smoky. A great, satisfying medium-long finish. Overall, this is an excellent, very pleasant, highly rewarding dram. Nothing is off-putting or excessively strong. Everything is perfectly balanced. My score for it is 94 out of 100, mainly because the palate was slightly lacking. I regret sharing this whisky; I should have kept it all.

The final bottling in the series builds upon the Glen Elgin single malt of M&L II by incorporating a couple of peaty whiskies. In other words, it returns to traditional Compass Box style. Indeed, the aroma is as skillfully crafted as a typical bottling from the blender: scents of a sweet, mild peat with a menthol hint blend with green apples. The taste begins with a smooth, minty smoke, then transitions into crisp, dry, and malty flavors. The finish has a pleasant yeasty note, reminiscent of crumpets. Compass Box frequently achieves excellence with peaty elements and doesn't falter here. In fact, the peat is so transformative that the influence of the second bottle isn't immediately apparent, though my notes indicate its presence in the fruity aroma and the dry palate flavors. This transformation is impressive given that Caol Ila and Highland Park constitute only 15% of the blend, demonstrating the power of peat. This was my preferred of the three after my initial tasting of each, only falling to second place after the complexities of the first bottling became evident upon a second tasting the following night. However, one cannot ignore the other limited edition peated whisky currently offered by Compass Box, No Name 2. It costs about $20 less and, based on my brief tasting, is at least as good. So, if you possess more funds, storage space, and liver capacity than I, purchase M&L I and III and place No Name 2 in between them in sequence. If you can only acquire one, the first M&L offers a unique delight.

Of the three bottles in the Myths and Legends collection, this is my preferred one, though only slightly ahead of the second. The inclusion of Highland Park and Caol Ila in the recipe for the second bottle provides just the right amount of smoke to make this one superior in my view. The aroma presents smoke, green apple, and a hint of citrus peel. On the palate, I detect sea salt, honey, caramel, and smoke, though not excessively. It's very well-balanced. The finish is the longest of the three and has some spice, sulfur, and only a little warmth. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the last two entries in the series, but less so the first. The pricing for these is a bit steep, particularly for the initial release, but if I had to select one, it would be this one. However, if smoke isn't to your liking, then the second bottle would be a better choice. I almost selected the second bottle as my favorite, but the finish gave this one the edge.

I've been attempting to reduce my purchases but felt compelled to acquire at least one of these, and I chose the blend. Nose - Fruity, waxy, vanilla. There's some oak and a hint of salt and earthy notes towards the end. Taste - Vanilla, cream, followed by some earthy elements, a little smoke, and bitter notes. This is a pleasant, relatively mature-tasting blend that offers the fruity characteristics Compass Box often aims for, with a subtle touch of smoke. It cost around $150, which is a bit excessive, reflecting a trend that seems common lately with Compass Box. I'd like to have the three bottles for display, but I'm content having experienced this one and will stop there. Rated 2.5 for quality scotch, but not particularly special.

I've just finished my bottles of No Name 1 & 2, both of which I truly enjoyed. I must admit I like this one more; it's more subtle and intriguing compared to those. I nearly skipped this bottle due to the $149 price tag, but I'm pleased I decided to purchase it. It will be interesting to observe its development over time. I'm not certain I would advise everyone to rush to buy it, but if you have the financial means and space on your shelf, I don't believe you'll be let down.

Abundant white fruits (white grapes, peaches)