Compass Box Phenomenology

I’ve consumed this bottle over the last 8-10 weeks and just finished it, while finally organizing my thoughts on it. This expression was launched alongside the smoky, No Name. That bottling was the brand's most heavily peated spirit to date and was among my top 6 whiskies ever. Consequently, my expectations for this one were also quite high. To begin, let's review the components of this blend. Initially, the creator and brand are known for their openness regarding the ingredients in each bottle, but this time they kept their details quite guarded until long after the release. Their intention was for people to evaluate it based solely on its flavor and to speculate about its contents. This approach was a bit different for them, but it was quite interesting. It wasn't until late December or early January that they disclosed the composition: Phenomenology consists of 72% Glenlossie (from a recharred hogshead), 24.5% Tamdhu (from a first-fill oak cask), 2% Highland Park (from a recharred oak cask), 1% Talisker (from a refill white oak cask), and 0.5% Caol Ila (from a hogshead). Thus, a sweet, Speyside-style spirit with a hint of smoke is anticipated. It sounds appealing. The color is a golden yellow, and it has a very viscous texture in the Glencairn glass. It produces slow-forming legs, leaving small droplets near the rim. This spirit is at an optimal alcohol by volume of 46%. The aroma is moderately complex: berries, tree fruits, and bananas are prominent at first, followed by what I would describe as a candle shop. The smoke appears and disappears as you inhale deeply from the glass. It's present one moment and gone the next. This is somewhat vexing, but considering the small proportions of peated components, it's perhaps understandable. The initial taste feels quite waxy. It's almost like you're coating your tongue with melted candle wax. It's engaging, but the waxy flavor prevents the fruity notes from making a significant impact. In the middle of the sip, I detected a pleasant spicy kick and notes of ginger snap cookies before it transitioned to a more traditional whisky profile with oak tannins and vanilla. It is unexpectedly intricate, but the waxy texture and flavor keep the elements too segregated, in my opinion. The finish is of medium length and has an oily character with some pleasant floral notes mingling in – where did those originate? The waxy sensation is entirely absent, which is a positive, and the concluding notes are warming and agreeable. It doesn't conclude too abruptly and isn't dry at all. These are all favorable aspects. Overall, my impression is more divided than I had anticipated or desired. The waxy elements and the lack of distinct smoke detract from the score, but the intricate palate and pleasant finish enhance it. It surpasses a mediocre blend, but it doesn't reach the exceptional level I've come to expect from Compass Box. The price of this bottle has also slightly increased, now ranging from $175-199 USD, which seems a bit steep for something that doesn't achieve a 5-star rating for me. As it stands, it's a solid 4, perhaps with a slight reduction due to the cost. Best wishes, my acquaintances.

I chose to undertake the Compass Box phenomenological experiment. Beyond their remarkable talent for creating new spirits, I've also been captivated by this company's ingenuity in design and marketing. They selected "Phenomenology" for this new product's title, drawing inspiration from the philosophical study of consciousness and subjective experience. Their website invites individuals to "experience this whisky without preconception and to first describe the ‘phenomena’ of the liquid for themselves, in their own words and ideas." Compass Box plans to reveal the exact recipe in mid-December, but they do confirm the creation is a blended malt composed of 5 components. The initial 2 constituents comprise 72% and 24.5% of the total volume, with the remaining 3 elements making up only the final 3.5%. Visually, the spirit exhibits an ideal golden hue. Testing its legs proves amusing as the liquid clinging to the glass resists separation and its descent. Finally forming and beginning to trickle down, the streams abruptly cease, seemingly in a show of solidarity. Growing impatient, I proceeded to the nose, which proved to be splendid. The initial alcoholic aroma of the 46% ABV liquid suggested solvent or turpentine. This promising start evoked thoughts of aged wood and/or old spirit. Further exploration was a delight, revealing thick waves of honeyed vanilla followed by a sudden burst of heavy apple and lemon citrus. While I don't typically use the entire spice rack, I also detected distinct notes of candle wax, bubble gum, and aged wood surrounding a floral arrangement. At this point, the mixture already gave me a strong indication of its primary ingredient. Moving to the palate was a continuation of enjoyment. With a viscosity mirroring its legs, it coated the tongue with the smoothness of silk. Evoking the spirit of Thanksgiving, grapenut custard ice cream atop Mom's apple pie were the themes for this stage. Before leaving the dessert course, I also found notes of lemon cake with almonds. As expected, the finish was slightly briny, waxy (reminiscent of Clynelish), and exceptionally pleasing. Adding water to this dram would feel like a transgression, but at the risk of severe repercussion, I did add a drop to observe it become cloudy. I suspect the primary component of this whisky is Clynelish. Its gold color is deeper than Clynelish 14yo, and uncannily similar to CB 3 Year Old Deluxe (90% Clynelish 24yo), leading me to estimate the Clynelish portion to be around 20 years old. Additionally, there's a sherry influence in this expression that could be attributed to Clynelish (a guess) or another related malt. While I may not be a phenomenologist, from a phenomenological standpoint, this whisky is extraordinary, earning a 5-star rating.

I frequently express my disappointment with Compass Box, often attributing it to my own excessive faith due to their strong marketing and overall buzz. However, when I sampled the 'No Name,' my perspective shifted, and I found myself loving it. The 'No Name' has a counterpart, released around the same time, called 'Phenomenology.' Its name derives from a psychological theory suggesting that individuals experience the same object differently. This is why they deliberately withheld tasting notes for this expression, encouraging debate about the flavors and aromas within this 'Dissonant blend, composed of 72% Glenlossie, 24.5% Tamdhu in bourbon cask, 2% Highland Park, 1% Talisker, and 0.5% Caol Ila.' This sounds intriguing! But does it meet expectations? Let's find out: Bottled at 46% ABV, with a golden hue. The nose is quite appealing. Red apples, vanilla, it evokes Glenfarclas (this was my impression before checking ingredients; there's no Glenfarclas present, haha). Flat cola, pears, cantaloupe, tobacco, dry grass, and pineapple juice (this note was very clear and easy to detect). Stale vanilla. Absolutely no peat. The palate is somewhat straightforward. Apples, cinnamon, pepper, pineapple, vanilla. It has an oily texture. I find that Compass Box often favors an accessible palate, which might be why it loses points in my scoring. The aftertaste is more of the same, featuring apples and spices like cinnamon and clove. Overall, this drinks like a typical Speysider. I couldn't detect any peaty notes; the closest were dry grass and tobacco. To verify my impressions, I watched some YouTube reviews to see if people perceived different notes as Compass Box claims. Most reviews aligned with my findings (except for the flat cola, lol). Some detected very subtle peat, which I didn't. I don't consider this a bad dram, but I find it too typical of Speyside and it fails to showcase the Talisker and Highland Park characteristics. Perhaps the Caol Ila's citrus note was present. My rating for it is approximately 80 out of 100.

Phenomenology is truly phenomenal. (Forgive the weak joke to start this review.) Back in late 2018, I held out hope of finding a bottle of this locally at its suggested retail price. Naturally, with the surge of self-proclaimed "whiskey connoisseurs" in sunny Southern California, that hope was never realized. I had nearly forgotten about this bottle. Then, from deep within some long-forgotten storage on the east coast, a bottle was discovered. I was then notified. Yes, I paid a substantial amount for this bottle. But it may have been my final chance, my fleeting opportunity to taste the one that was never meant to be. The aroma presents notes of apricots, citrus, and peaches immersed in sweetened cream, finishing with the familiar scent of vanilla and baking spices. The initial impression of this whiskey is its texture. It's exceptionally creamy and rich, evoking a dessert-like quality. Sweet peaches and melon introduce the flavor, followed by vanilla and baking spices, all carried by that creamy sensation. There's a drier sensation between the taste and the finish as the creaminess recedes, remarkably similar to their core product, "Spice Tree." This dry note brings to mind the feel of slightly worn leather. The finish is slightly waxy and begins with spice before fading into that familiar dry conclusion. As the taste almost disappears, a faint hint of honeydew emerges unexpectedly and vanishes instantly, leaving a sense of disappointment. I wish that sweet melon finish wasn't quite so ephemeral. Overall, it's a wonderfully complex and delicious blended whiskey. Was the wait and the price justified? Eh, it's debatable, but you can decide for yourself... if you can still locate a bottle, that is.

"Phenomenology: The Philosophical study of the Structures of experience and consciousness" – An impressive name. This is quite possibly one of my favorite whiskies from 2017, perhaps among the best I've ever had. I was fortunate to sample this at the Whisky show earlier this year and was thoroughly impressed. As expected from Compass Box, there's a great deal happening within; you'll discover new flavors with each sip. This dram contains all my preferred elements in a single bottle: tropical notes complemented by peat and a rich, creamy texture. Nose: Light citrus and sweetened pineapple, with a hint of shortbread and a touch of salty peat. Palate: Beautifully rich mouthfeel, akin to creamy custard with juicy citrus and a hint of red berries. Finish: Lemon transitioning, chewy marshmallows with a lingering salted peat and a late medicinal note; it's like a "peaty pudding".

I had no intention of purchasing this after their peculiar statements, but a friend shared a sample, and I acquired a bottle the following day. Nose - Salt, vanilla, peach, cream, and a hint of green apple. Taste - Gentle alcohol, fruity, vanilla, and tonight I'm detecting a significant amount of toasted oak. It has a profile somewhere between white bread and a light pastry with vanilla frosting. Then there's a subtle citrus jelly, almost like a jelly-filled donut in the background. The oak provides a touch of bitterness at the end, possibly a hint of tea. Finish - Here, those salty and savory notes return with a rich vanilla. Compass Box has missed the mark a few times recently, and their prices are certainly rising while the spirit's age decreases, but this one truly stands out as one of their best in recent years.