Compass Box The Lost Blend

Remarkably, I stumbled upon a forgotten blend from 2014 in Louisville, Kentucky, at a store that seemed devoid of any noteworthy scotch. To be truthful, I initially thought perhaps a re-release had slipped my mind, but it appears that wasn't the case. Nose - My initial impression is simply a straightforward, light, clean, sweet smoke. Now, I detect a hint of apple, perhaps a touch of cider, some brown sugar, or notes of cinnamon. There's a pastry-like quality. A subtle waxiness is present, but if I hadn't been informed about Clynelish, I wouldn't have identified it. Interestingly, now that I've grown accustomed to the aroma, the smoke has completely dissipated. Taste - I truly wish I had the financial means to have purchased every bottle of this. How can I describe it? There's a dynamic interplay between fruity notes, fruit spices, some smoke, an earthy element, a slightly waxy, oily, grassy sensation, followed by more spices and fruits. It presents a dance of sweet and peat that captivates me endlessly. I'd describe it as oily honey, a hint of apples coated in cream, light smoke akin to the crust of a pizza that's golden but not charred from a wood-fired oven, and then a distant campfire smoke, about 200 feet away and not drifting towards you. It's pleasant and aromatic rather than overpowering. Oak-derived spices add a lovely touch. I'm genuinely curious about the age of the contents. Part of me suspects it might be younger than 18 years for the most part, perhaps only the final small component. While this might typically concern me for a $120 bottle, it doesn't here. I believe this 'lost blend' reflects how Compass Box can no longer source the same quality whisky due to the industry's boom, sadly serving as a reminder of what I once cherished about the brand. Don't misunderstand, they still produce excellent spirits, but prices are escalating, and quality is not keeping pace. This expression, however, is a sweet spot! I can hardly believe I'm doing this, but 4 stars. I believe I've exhausted my whisky budget for the remainder of the year and then some, yet I might need to consider acquiring another bottle.

I decided to review my 2oz sample of The Lost Blend that I received from a friend tonight to acknowledge all that we have lost; loved ones, companions, icons. Last week my wife lost her maternal grandmother and Detroit lost a great leader in Mike Ilitch, owner of the Detroit Red Wings, Detroit Tigers, founder of Little Caesar's Pizza, a believer in and investor in the city of Detroit and contributor to countless charities. This blended malt whisky is 46% ABV, is non chill filtered and has a natural color of what I would call champagne gold. The nose is simply divine. Floral peat smoke upfront that turns to tarry/creosote ashes (I'm not sure what malts are being used but if I had to guess Laphroaig would be a key component). Light oak and vanilla emerge but are subtle. Red fruits and stone fruits like plums or apricots. A pineapple-like citrus note and a very distinct candle wax. Complex and powerful with a great balance of peat and fruit. The palate is a bit more confusing. Lightly spicy upfront. Bonfire smoke. Pepper, cinnamon and other wood spices. It transforms into light oranges and orchard fruits and a general deliciousness. It was difficult for me to identify a few of the notes but this is a very tasty blended malt indeed. The mouthfeel is fairly light but has some oiliness to it. Very mouthwatering. The finish is medium long with peat smoke, fruits and some oak spices, a bit dry at the end. To me this is like a mixture of Peat Monster and Spice Tree with a splash of Hedonism. It's a shame this is a limited edition as it's exceptionally well crafted. Granted this is my first non core range CBW but it is my favorite so far, sorry Hedonism but you needed a hint of smoke to remain on top. Even though this is a NAS I can tell it has some age to it, but enough youth to boost its intensity. 4.5. Cheers everyone.

When the founder of Compass Box left his previous job in 2001 to start his own blends, his initial creation was a blended malt named "Eleuthera". However, a component of this blend was lost permanently two years later. Inspired by a story he read in 2004 about two bartenders creating a magical blend, the founder decided to craft a new blend to replicate the original "Eleuthera", calling it "The Lost Blend". He even designed three unique labels and an elaborate box filled with images of objects that are lost, either from history or existence. This Blended Malt is composed of Clynelish, Alt-a-Bhainne, and Caol Ila. It is bottled at 46% ABV and has a pale straw hue. On the nose, it presents a noticeable peatiness. It's very maritime, with notes of salt and the sea. There's chocolate with salt and lemon. After an initial taste, the aroma shifts to a pond-like, rainforest profile, with recently cut wet grass and permanent marker. It also has a metallic scent, like a one-cent coin. On the palate, there's a pleasing balance between sweetness and peat. Flavors include chocolate, pepper, and a metallic, sulphuric quality. Wet grass and vanilla are also present. The aftertaste is well-rounded, with salty, sulphuric, and metallic notes. Hints of ginger and hay, along with a cigarette-like, ashy character, are also detected. Overall, this expression continues my complicated feelings towards Compass Box. I strongly suspect Caol Ila dominates the other malts, making it seem like a single malt from that Islay distillery and nothing more. I feel the blending wasn't entirely successful here, which wasn't surprising. While others at my tasting event enjoyed it, it didn't particularly impress me. It's not bad, just not my preference. I rate it 84 out of 100.

Nose - sweet peat, smoked meat, pear, baked apple, apricot, cinnamon, honey, toffee, creamy vanilla, coconut, waxy lemon, sweet floral notes, cocoa, fig, orange zest, hay, light oak, black pepper, strawberry, mint, oat, moderate ethanol burn. Taste - smoked meat, sweet peat, orange zest, ginger, chili pepper, cinnamon, black pepper, waxy lemon, milk chocolate, apple, pear, honey, toffee, mint, coconut, creamy vanilla, oat, moderate alcohol bite, finishing medium long with meaty peat, citrus zest, toffee, and pepper flavors. The aroma is a superb fusion of sweet smoke and creamy, fruity toffee. Everything is exceptionally well-integrated with a rich, non-grainy maltiness. The taste is similar, but the initial impact is a burst of deep, smoky citrus and tingling pepper before settling into a creamy, oat and honey sensation. The finish lingers gently with dominant flavors remaining pleasantly for at least a minute. Now, this is a quality blend. It's evident that the components have some age. I can't definitively say if it's superior to the sum of its parts, but the characteristic smoky, meaty Caol Ila and fruity, waxy Clynelish both make a strong showing. Unfortunately, it lives up to its name, and the prices have escalated to absurd levels in the secondary market. I would absolutely purchase this at its original retail price of $125. Certainly not at today's prices. Another big thanks to a friend for providing the sample. This one is really well-crafted.

Purchased and finished on 5/22/19. Compass Box The Lost Blend Blended Malt No Age Statement 46% ABV Bottled 8/20/2014 Limited to 12,018 bottles Cost: 113 USD This is a mix of three single malts (Clynelish, Caol Ila, and Altt-A-Bhainne), each aged solely in bourbon barrels. The backstory is that the lucky discovery of some 18-year-old Altt-A-Bhainne that was "extraordinary examples of near-perfection in maturation" enabled them to craft this Lost Blend. That's a nice story. A perfectly aged Altt-A-Bhainne would likely still taste bad. It's not a good distillery. Sometimes I detect metallic and straw aromas in this spirit that stop this from being a flawless blend. Could that be Altt-A-Bhainne lurking in there? On its good days, this is a magnificent peaty take on a solid, typical Clynelish. A pleasant combination of orchard fruits and grains. Waxy and zesty on the palate. A lovely mellow, savory, and heartfelt peat on the conclusion. When I first opened this bottle, the perfectly harmonious nose astonished me, but then the metallic and straw notes became apparent. As I consumed the bottle, I definitely focused on the finish more. I do appreciate Compass Box. However, I don't require a backup bottle of The Lost Blend. If I come across this on discount for under $100, I might consider it. Score (excluding price): 90 / 100 Purchase satisfaction (including price): 3.75 / 5

Tonight's tasting party featured many whiskies I've already sampled (no complaints), but I need something new to "help me sleep, properly." A perfect occasion for a Compass Box selection. The Lost Blend. This blend is 92 proof and carries a hefty $100+ price tag. According to the bottle there were only 12018 bottles filled, so subtract one and join me in hoping for a follow-up. So, let's begin: this beauty is almost transparent in the glass. Lighter than light. Talk about not revealing your strategy before the final round. Cue up ZZ Top's "Legs" video BEFORE you give this one a swirl. Legs. For. Days. On the nose, well, where to begin? Candle wax x 2, citrus peel and fresh, vibrant oak barrel, and crushed mint. If you take a deep inhale - it stings so well. On the tongue it bursts with a wonderful sweet honey and orchard fruit explosion that, while dry, blends into a heavy barrel finish. Peppery oak and vanilla on the tail end mark one of the most satisfying and balanced finishes I've ever experienced in any scotch (blended or single malt). Compass Box succeeds again. Whenever I question the authenticity of blended scotches, all I need to do is reach for these guys. If you see a Compass Box on the shelf near you - get it, disregard the price tag and purchase it. John Glaser is knowledgeable. You will not be let down. Buy with confidence. Cheers, and goodnight, my friends.