Compass Box The Circle No. 1

The Circle - This was a bit of an unknown quantity and a pleasant surprise. Let's get the details out there. Tamdhu makes up 78.38% and is between 15 and 19 years old. Then a sherry butt from Clynelish constitutes 14.8%, aged on the younger side of the aforementioned range. Finally, Highland Park, from a bourbon barrel and a fairly common older age of 20+ years, makes up the bulk of the rest. And then a younger Highland malt accounts for the remaining 1.5%. There you have it, Compass Box; I didn't reveal the ages! The color is quite a light gold. It doesn't appear aged, and the presence of the sherry butt is surprising. Perhaps the 46% ABV lightens it. The nose has some nice barrel char, surprisingly, with light red fruit, vanilla, and dare I say, a touch of smoke? Flavor - it's simply nice. Apples, a hint of oak, pleasant sweet malt, some vanilla notes, and yes, a light smoke. It has a creamy mouthfeel, though it doesn't handle water well (the creaminess is diminished). The 46% ABV is unfortunately about 1% too low for me to effectively use a significant amount of water. Adding water does bring out some bite from the citrus notes, and while I would normally expect spice, this is actually clean with no spice. Finish - oh yes, I detect wood and definitely smoke lingering on the finish as the sweet flavors fade. It's not a long finish, but it leans towards the longer side of medium. So, the question is whether it's worth $150. Honestly, at first taste, I loved it but felt it was a bit overpriced. Now, having consumed it down to the top label section (the gold part of the Compass Box label, so not that much remaining), I'm really beginning to appreciate it. This truly is, as they call it, "sunshine"; it's sweet, balanced, complex, but it lacks the intensely complex notes you get from more robust flavors. Initially, I considered this a "lesser" offering, but I completely disagree with that now. They've created a perfect daytime sipper to enjoy with friends. I'm not one to often award more than a 3. A 3 signifies a very high-quality spirit, but this is priced appropriately and truly excels. Many would rate this a 4.5.

Making a dinner reservation at a highly-rated establishment with a superb menu, and then discovering the food is outstanding, the atmosphere is perfect, and there are some excellent whiskeys available, is a true delight. A trip to Rhode Island for the weekend included a meal at Persimmon on Federal Hill in Providence. Upon being seated, I requested and was given the spirits list. While not extensive, the quality was top-notch. Most exciting were two high-end Compass Box selections I hadn't yet sampled – The Circle and Affinity. The Circle has been on my radar for only a few weeks, given its recent release. I was intrigued by the brand and the incredibly striking label design. The nose presents oak, bright fruit, and cream. The palate mirrors this, though with a more pronounced oak presence. Overall, it's exceptionally smooth and very pleasant. Unlike some others and my wife, I detected no smoke. I did notice significant oak with a hint of char. Considering the stated intention to create a light, easy-drinking, yet flavorful whisky, I believe the objective was met. However, the price point is difficult to ignore. While I appreciate Hedonism and Spice Tree, both of which are less expensive than The Circle, and Spice Tree is less than half the price, they offer more complexity and enjoyment, despite having different flavor profiles. On the other hand, The Circle boasts a more captivating shelf appeal. It remains to be seen if the visual appeal alone justifies the purchase. This might be the first time a label alone elevates a whisky to 'buy' status.

In 2018, John Glaser and the entire Compass Box team organized a special competition. They invited bartenders from around the globe, and the one who created the best whisky cocktail would have the opportunity to craft their own Compass Box blend. The contest was called "The Circle" and was won by Rosey Mitchell, who selected this particular recipe, composed of: 78.8% Tamdhu 14.8% Clynelish 4.9% Highland Park 1.5% a Highland malt blend. The label features a sun, as Rosey aimed to create a whisky that evoked sunshine. Bottled at 46% ABV, it has a burnished gold color. On the nose, it is highly appealing. It begins with a distinct chocolate fudge, cinnamon, pineapple, and the most incredible white chocolate aroma imaginable. Stewed apples, very creamy, coconut. Truly elegant. On the palate, it's not as impressive, but not bad either, just average. It's very light and creamy, with notes of vanilla and dulce de leche. White chocolate; salmon. Exceptionally smooth and spicy. The aftertaste is peaty and pleasant. Earthy, peppery, metallic. It possesses an amazing note of freshly baked brownies, with a very long finish. Overall, I enjoyed this dram, but it's unlikely to astound anyone. The palate could be improved, but I suppose it's a very well-balanced whisky. The white chocolate notes are particularly nice. My rating for this blended malt is a solid 85 out of 100.

Tasted at a gathering put on by the "Sonoma County Single Malt Society". I see the humor in that. Smell: Rich sugars, wood, a touch of alcohol, smoke, and peat. Taste: Sweetness immediately, vanilla, a bit of peat and smoke, creamy, a little dull and smoky. Aftertaste: A little heat, lasts a medium amount of time with notes of baking spices and less smoke and peat than anticipated. Quite fiery at the end. I hoped to enjoy this because of its background but there was simply not a lot of taste present. Quite understated in a dull manner.

I don't normally score the aroma of my whiskey. That wasn't the case today. I appreciated the very smooth initial taste and the persistent finish. It exceeded my expectations for one of the most impressive aromas from a Compass Box I've experienced to date.

I was neither impressed nor blown away. I found it to be weak and lacking. Based on the description, I was expecting a strong burst of orange malt and burnt sugar. However, I struggled to detect much that stood out prominently through to the finish.