Compass Box Stranger & Stranger

Compass Box Whisky, based in London, has introduced another “spirit drink” to challenge the Scottish Malt Whisky Society: Stranger & Stranger. This release commemorates the 10th anniversary of their collaboration with this marketing firm, which designs their labels and bottle artwork. This blend also includes 1% of one-year-old grain spirit from Girvan, preventing it from being classified as whisky under SMWS rules. However, like all CBW releases, it is non-chill filtered and contains no added color. It is bottled at 46% ABV and costs just under $200. Let's see if it's worth it... The appearance is similar to freshly polished gold, with an oily texture that forms tiny droplets and a few indistinct legs in the glass. The aroma evokes fresh honeydew melon and a waxy, sweet corn. There's an underlying mango sweetness beneath notes of baked grain bread. You can also detect some heat from the alcohol content. The palate is incredibly juicy with vine-ripened fruit, subtle chocolate, and honey. A delightful peach purée with added sugar gives it body on the tongue and in the overall mouthfeel, supported by a subtle oak structure leading into the finish. The finish is of medium length and mouthwatering, leaving a lingering waxy, fruity, and heavy coating on the palate. The mango and peach notes persisted for hours after the finish. Overall, this is a very enjoyable “spirit.” Glenlossie constitutes 80% of this blend, making me curious to explore independent bottlings from that distillery to see if the peach and mango characteristics are present in other malts. Glen Elgin (14%) and Linkwood (5%) make up the remainder of the whisky components. With a total of only 4,802 bottles produced, despite the high price, this is a high-quality product. The packaging is also appealing. I recommend seeking out a bottle or a tasting to form your own opinion. I am pleased I purchased a second bottle, as they are becoming somewhat harder to find now. Rated 4.25-4.5 stars. Cheers.

Continuing to work through my current collection - around 120 bottles remaining. This should be enjoyable! I've had this open since its release but haven't had many servings. My initial impressions were quite poor, so let's see if it has improved or if my preferences have shifted. Nose: exhibits peach and mango with an oily, waxy undertone. Some earthy notes are also present on the finish. A pleasant vanilla and spice note appears at the end. It's much sweeter and more vanilla-forward than citrusy or spicy. Taste: The fruits and vanillas remain at a very dessert-like pastry level initially. The finish is overwhelming with an explosion of alcohol, spice, and a swirl of creamy fruit cocktails. A woody and bitter finish persists, tying it all together. Finish: Medium to medium-long, without much variation or change. However, there is a pleasant lingering finish, quite nicely executed. This has really developed for me. I was quite disappointed early on, but I've come to genuinely enjoy it. The sweet notes are well-balanced. There's good complexity. I thought I'd spent around 200 on this, but checking prices, it seems I paid 180. Was it worth it at that price? I have to say, I believe it's well worth it. If you enjoy sweeter whiskies, you should definitely seek this out.

Fantastic! After a journey of highs and lows, this brings me back up to a rating of 4.25 to 4.5. While some bottles improve with oxygen and time, it's uncommon (unless your palate is very tired) to not immediately distinguish the good from the great. This, the Ardbeg Galileo, and Red Spot immediately impressed as being a step above straight from the sample bottle, even without water or air (though one could argue they've had ample opportunity to breathe from an opened bottle, as did the others I sampled from that person). Anyway, this is a superb one. It has a light, sweet smokiness, calvados apple, honey, and more. Excellently crafted, well-proportioned, with a pleasing, though not astounding, depth of complexity. Much appreciation again to my friend.

Aroma: desiccated apples, hide, blooms, firm fruit sweets, dehydrated tropical fruits, sponge cake, whisper of maple. Palate: comparable notes to those above, yet more flowery, seasonings, brine, and wood. Aftereffect: seasonings, wood, brine, floral notes, more seasonings remain the longest. Fiery and lengthy aftereffect given the alcohol percentage. 93/100*

A fun spirit drink, though not technically "scotch whisky" because of 1% grain whisky. Nose: Initially, it has grassy notes and a hint of caramel. This spirit becomes more flavorful with air. With patience, more tastes emerge. Notes of apple, banana, vanilla, orange blossom, pineapple, custard, caramel, perhaps crème brûlée? It's reminiscent of Vanilla Coke. Palate: Sweet, grassy, oaky, with orange blossom and an oily texture. Finish: Grassy and oaky.

This new Compass Box offering has a wild aroma: peach and lychee with a faint whiff of cheese, maybe gruyere. These notes don't carry over to the thick palate, which features toast, ginger spice, and dark orange chocolate. The spice is a bit overpowering initially, but it mellows out after some drinking. It's another fantastic Compass Box, though the cost is a bit bold, even considering the gorgeous bottle.