Compass Box No Name

This latest Compass Box offering was added to a side-by-side tasting of Peat Monster and Peat Monster Cask Strength. The reason? The label on No Name stated it was CBW's smokiest scotch to date and a natural step up from Peat Monster. As a dedicated scotch enthusiast, it felt appropriate to include it. Fortunately, a sample was provided in November by a friend. Honestly, expectations for this bottle weren't very high. The "smokiest yet, most powerful" claims seemed like mere posturing, especially considering extensive experience with Octomore. But wow... Let's dive in. The components are intriguing: 75% Ardbeg, 10.5% Caol Ila, 13.5% Clynelish, and just under 1% of CBW's base blend (Clynelish, Teaninich, and Dailuaine, aged longer in French oak). A substantial portion comes from Islay's most renowned smoky distilleries. It's believed CBW even re-charred the casks from these distilleries and extended the aging of the final blend. This is impressive, and it truly delivers. The aroma is absolutely incredible. It took a bit longer than usual to fully develop, but when it did, it was like a story from childhood. The nose builds anticipation unlike any previous Compass Box. It starts floral and intensely smoky, then reveals candied fruits and red berries. It's quite captivating, even briefly disappearing before returning sweeter, then smokier, then sweet again. This scotch is a real page-turner. The taste begins with smoke comparable to Peat Monster, followed by a pleasant fruitiness reminiscent of a certain Lowland distillery, and floral notes. It achieves a delicate harmony, never becoming overwhelming or harsh. The nearly 49% ABV is barely noticeable. Do not add water initially; try it neat first. It doesn't require chilling. The finish is of medium length, but I must say it's the most succulent and mouth-watering finish I've encountered in any scotch, be it single malt or blend. It's an astonishing accomplishment. This also comes remarkably close to mimicking a peated, port barrel-finished whisky, a combination I firmly believe is perfect. This blend nearly achieves that without the port barrel. In conclusion, this whisky has earned a spot among my Top 6 favorite whiskies of all time and surpasses This Is Not A Luxury Whisky, which was previously my favorite CBW. It's easily a 5-star pour. Now, the challenge is determining how many of the 15,000 available bottles to acquire. The cost is a consideration. What's the total for multiple bottles? Seek this bottle out and experience it yourself. It's worth every cent. Cheers, everyone.

This is another excellent bonus sample from the SDT group, shared by a friend. To reiterate what a friend previously stated, this is a malt blend made up of 75.5% Ardbeg, 10.6% Caol Ila, 13.4% Clynelish, and.5% of a secret ingredient from Compass Box, which is Dailuaine. It was matured in French oak. Advertised as the smokiest CBW to date, it comes in a really cool black-accented bottle. It's bottled at 48.9% ABV and, like all CBW spirits, it's non-chill filtered with natural color. The color is a pale straw, similar to its core range relative, Peat Monster. The aroma is a bit muted initially, but it develops beautifully with time. It's certainly smoky, but also very floral, much like Peat Monster. It's also quite fruity, with raspberries, strawberries, blackberries, and a hint of ripe red apples. There's a note of candied bacon, sticky and sweet, like getting bacon grease on your fingers then dipping them into sugar. The Clynelish adds a waxy note, along with vanilla and cream. The smoke reappears but is overpowered by the fruit. There's polished oak, more floral notes, a touch of honey, and a light lemony citrus. Dark chocolate and sea salt, apricots, and a distant rubbery scent are also present. The taste starts sweet but quickly becomes peppery. It has layers of smoke rather than an overwhelming blast, which you might expect given the high Ardbeg content. It tastes like smoked brisket and overcooked BBQ chicken, with grilled stone fruits that have been chilled. It's not incredibly complex, but it's very enjoyable. It has a medium-full bodied, oily, and dry mouthfeel with a slight waxiness. The finish is medium long, smoky, meaty, and dry. While I'm sure this is superior to Peat Monster, I'm not entirely convinced it's worth double the price. The overall peat and smoke sensation makes it seem like there's more Caol Ila than indicated. Even though this might be the peatiest CBW ever, I was anticipating Ardbeg-level intense peat. Nevertheless, it's very enjoyable and further proof of the brilliant blending by John Glaser and the Compass Box team. It's a solid 4.5, which I'm rounding up to 5 because a 4 would be unfair. We'll all need to adjust our numerous ratings once we get half-star increments, hint hint. Cheers 🥃

He realized he had no rolling paper. The ashtray by the deceased held warm, smoking embers, urging him to get more. But he wouldn't leave. The mourners would arrive soon. He'd already arranged the lilies and carnations, their mild floral, spicy scent pleasing him in one corner. He despised the overpowering fragrance of most flowers and scoffed at the thought of a wedding. In another corner, the food was ready. His latest creation was a lemon and vanilla rice pudding, always a crowd-pleaser. Soon, the room's mixed aromas would be united by the head mortician when he opened the embalming fluid bottles. He relished this moment and his profession. Some might label him an undertaker or funeral director, but he prefers the title No Name. Compass Box understates their skill as whiskymakers; they craft whiskies. Most of their creations tell a coherent story. This one is titled “Chain smoking in a funeral home.” It evokes carnations, lemon rice pudding, cigarettes, and formaldehyde. The nose assaults you with the intensity of a widow's anguished cries, while the finish offers the gentle, haunting sorrow of her friends' sympathetic tears. I consumed my first bottle far too rapidly and feel lucky to have a spare. This ranks among my top three Compass Box whiskies ever. The Flaming Heart 15th anniversary edition is my number one. It's a toss-up between this and This is Not a Luxury Whisky for second and third. I'll place No Name at number two, primarily because it's about $100 less. I won't speculate on the age of the Ardbeg, Caol Ila, or Clynelish in this blend, nor will I contact Compass Box, who will apparently disclose the ages of blend components upon request. Right now, the magic is too captivating to spoil by understanding the methods. Score: ** (beyond excellent) Bottle cost: $120-180 My perceived bottle value: $280

I always appreciate Compass Box for their lovely packaging, and this bottle, dressed in mysterious all black with runes and a wax seal, appealed to my inner romantic. Nose: A powerful blast of smoke, like throwing water on a campfire when you're done because you're a bit nuts and can't sleep otherwise. Salty sea air, asphalt, seaweed, grains, and faint lemon/lime trying to emerge... perhaps some vanilla. Palate: Immediately, sweet medicinal notes arrive, like band-aids, rubber, asphalt, intense licorice, cocoa, grapefruit-like citrus, and a hint of nuttiness. The texture is not heavy and rich as anticipated, but medium-bodied, smooth, and slightly oily. Finish: Pervasive smoke, leathery, peppery, very salty, and an overwhelming licorice presence. It brings to mind a specific licorice I received from a friend from Sweden around ten years ago that I adored; salmiac licorice. Coffee, band-aids... it persists. After my initial taste, I was completely captivated and returned to the shop for more bottles because once it's finished, it's gone. I could easily spend one to two hours enjoying a single serving, exploring all its subtle details. It's rough and bold, yet refined and elegant. A contradictory, stunning blended whisky and among the finest "Islay-style" whiskies I've ever had the privilege to sample.

The aroma begins with a blend of toasted marshmallow, waxy sweet citrus, and a seaside campfire, followed by tangy barbecue sauce on baby back ribs. It then shifts to light florals, freeze-dried apples, orange starburst, and Bosc pears, concluding with cloves, fresh ginger, and gauze pads, accompanied by a moderate alcohol burn. The taste presents a medium, creamy texture, starting with slight bitterness and ash, then a moderate black pepper spice that gradually fades to light floral notes, toasted marshmallow, and lemon custard. This is followed by tangy barbecue sauce with barbecued shrimp, then sautéed apples, orange zest, and grapefruit, transitioning to cloves, fresh ginger, and gauze pads with a medium alcohol burn. The finish is medium in length, featuring moderate ashy campfire embers, creamy citrus fruits, and chalky dark cocoa powder. This Compass Box blend offers a wonderful introduction on the nose with creamy sweets, waxy fruits, barbecued meats, and spices, which carries over to the palate. However, it initially leans towards a more intense spice profile before settling back into the nose's flavors, with barbecued seafood and slightly tart fruits, finishing with an ashy character. Compared to a Talisker 15, the No Name appears less robust, younger, and spicier, while the Talisker is creamier and better balanced. Sincere thanks to a generous friend for the sample.

Nose: Intense peat, iodine, cured meat, eucalyptus, sunblock, chalk, mint, black pepper, soot, gentle oak, citrus, coconut, aged paper, tar, hide, apple peel, caramel, hay, significant alcohol sting. Palate: Iodine, eucalyptus, smoked meat, heavy peat, saltwater, apple, grass, lemon peel, salty toffee, chocolate, licorice, burnt rubber, pear, leather, zesty oak, hot pepper, vanilla, strong alcoholic punch, medium-long finish with eucalyptus, citrus peel, iodine, and hot pepper notes. This spirit is remarkably potent. The influence of Ardbeg and Caol Ila is unmistakable. While no age is stated for the components, I suspect younger elements are present due to the fierce and sharp peat. The aroma is dominated by eucalyptus, smoked meat, and iodine. Clynelish shows up on the palate with its signature waxy fruit, though it's quite subtle. This is a fantastic dram. However, the overwhelming eucalyptus taste makes discerning some of the finer scents and tastes quite challenging. It strongly reminds me of applying Vicks VapoRub to my chest as a child when unwell. I recognize this characteristic from high-proof Ardbeg, having encountered it before, but I wish it were less prominent here. Still, it's difficult to fault it significantly. I'd gladly have a serving anytime. As always, much appreciation to a friend for the sample.