Compass Box This Is Not a Luxury Whisky

I've been eager to open a more special bottle from my collection during the holidays, and between work and now some harsh weather, I've finally had some free time (stuck) at home, so I reached for the bottle that has intrigued me the most since I bought it: This Is Not A Luxury Whisky from John Glaser and Compass Box. Silly name and packaging aside, let's get into this one properly. Its packaging is a flimsy cardboard box, and the bottle label looks hand-written with a cheap gold marker. There was only a thin strip of gold foil tape (similar to old, inexpensive American bourbon) across the cork. It was easily opened with a quick cut from a pocket knife. (A quick note: this should be considered shameful, as there's some very old and expensive spirit in the blend, and failing to properly seal the cork is unacceptable.) I understand the concept behind the cheap-looking packaging and actually find it amusing, as intended. It's cask strength at 106.2 proof, is non-chill filtered, and has no added color. This bottling was limited to just under 5,000 bottles, and I found it online for just under $180. A bargain considering newer releases from this brand have been priced close to $300. Enough rambling, let's get to what's inside. It's slick and deep amber in color, and swirling it in the Glencairn causes it to cling to the sides of the glass like glue. Not much in terms of legs. Thick and oily. After resting for about 20 minutes, the aroma is amazing: new leather belt, chocolate, gentle smoke, and ripe bananas. I could spend all day just smelling this. That first taste is heavenly. The initial heat from the high proof just awakens your tongue. As the heat fades, your tongue feels oily with significantly more smoke than I anticipated (a 30-year-old Caol Ila is the only smoky malt used, and it constitutes about 4% of the blend). There are underlying notes of leather again, figs, and wet hay. There's also some caramel-covered apple. Absolutely incredible! The finish is long, bitter, and a bit hot, but it feels absolutely necessary. It burns away the oil left on the palate and leaves you craving another taste. As it settles, a faint wisp of smoke rises and stings the nose, reminding you that you're drinking whisky right now. It's a completely amazing experience. I get it, John Glaser. This isn't a luxury whisky because it's meant to be consumed. Placing this unattractive bottle on your bar should lead to your friends grabbing it, opening it, exclaiming, "I'll just try this one," turning the bottle upwards, gasping for air, and instantly becoming scotch whisky enthusiasts. Now, if you could kindly produce more of this while reducing the price to around $100 a bottle... To wrap up this lengthy review so I can drink more, I have to say (without going through my entire scotch review list) that this blended whisky has climbed to the top of my favorite non-peated list. Go online, find the remaining bottles of this non-luxury spirit, and buy one. If I could give it more than 5 stars on this non-luxury whisky app, I would. Cheers to you, bottom-shelf whisky drinkers. Lol

This is not a review. The bottle is quite intriguing. The contents are also interesting, but not as much as the bottle itself, which is ironic. The bottle, however, misses the irony, as it should be labeled "This is not luxury." The famous painting that inspired this Compass Box release is René Magritte's "Ceci n’est pas une pipe (This is not a pipe)." And indeed, it is not a pipe; it's a representation of one. This bottle of whisky is an object, and luxury is the abstraction. Compass Box could have cleverly subverted Magritte's concept by scrutinizing an object representing the abstraction, the opposite of the original painting. Instead, "This Is Not a Luxury Whisky" feels like a clumsy, gimmicky reference. The accompanying message about the liquid being paramount and meant to be drunk is rather tiresome exposition. "This Is Not Luxury" would have been a perfect title without any added explanation. While including notes and objective information is fine, I dislike being told how to interpret something. And it's not luxury. It contains grain whisky, specifically 40-year-old grain whisky, which isn't to my taste. Most of this whisky is 19-year-old Glen Ord malt, providing a fruity and floral Highland base. However, I can't shake the feeling that blending 40-year-old grain with 19-year-old malt results in something that tastes like a 15-year-old whisky. The acetone and banana notes are present, and while it's richer and more oily, it's not something I immediately enjoy. Yes, I'm uncertain about the grain. It's interesting to me, but not particularly appealing, much like dwarves. Anyway, the grain's dominance fades quickly, and the experience improves. The finish is one of the most dynamic and complex I've encountered in a whisky. The Islay influence, subdued on the nose and initial taste, begins to assert itself, creating a back-and-forth interplay between salty and savory, and sweet and toffeed notes for an extended period. At 53.1% ABV, exhaling correctly yields some excellent aftertastes. Adding water to a blend typically diminishes the oldest components first. So, on one hand, I might actually prefer this without the obvious contribution from the grain; on the other hand, adding water makes it more commonplace and less worth the price tag. This is a great whisky. Is it worth two Flaming Hearts? No. PRESUMPTIVE MARK: 94/100.

This was one of the first premium bottles I acquired for my home bar, a limited edition from Compass Box named "This is Not a Luxury Whisky." The bottle's design and concept, typical of Compass Box, draw from art. In the late 1920s, a renowned Belgian painter named René Magritte created a painting of a pipe with the inscription: "this is not a pipe." The surrealist intent was to highlight that it was a depiction, not the actual object. This bottle applies the same idea, suggesting that calling it "not a luxury whisky" paradoxically makes it so. Bottled at 53.1% ABV, it has a lovely golden hue, though not visible in the bottle due to its black decanter. On the nose, it's almost perfect. Notes of orange peel, tangerine, and tobacco leaf mingle with hints of burnt grass, white chocolate, and coconut cream. After some time to breathe, it reveals lemon peel and meringue. A distinct note of Ritter chocolate with almonds is present, along with cigarette-like aromas. The palate is intensely peaty, which was quite surprising. Tobacco and ash notes are prominent, along with salty and maritime characteristics. A second taste brought forth a rich, thick vanilla flavor and oily texture. Orange acidity appeared on the second sip, alongside sulfur and metallic notes. It's creamy and acidic. The aftertaste is also wonderfully peaty, with salt, maritime kelp, and ash. It's remarkably salty, reminiscent of a wet ashtray and cigarettes. Overall, this was a complete surprise. I've sampled many Compass Box expressions and anticipate some peatiness, but this release is significantly more intense than any other. In a blind tasting, I wouldn't have identified it as a Compass Box for two reasons: it lacks the typical "Glen Elgin - Clynelish" profile they often use, and it resembles a single malt more than a blended Scotch. I might have even guessed it was the rare Mackinlay Shackleton old highland malt (the Whyte & Mackay replica by Richard Patterson) due to its old, grassy, tobacco-like peat character. An outstanding whisky, truly deserving of a 95 out of 100 score.

I'm finally reviewing this limited release. I was fortunate to receive a generous sample from a friend. I've had it for a while, and between distillery tours, it's the perfect time to explore it. This is a blended Scotch with malts from Caol Ila and Glen Ord, and grain whisky from Girvan and Strathclyde. The Caol Ila makes up only 4% of the blend but is a mature 30 years old. It's bottled at cask strength (53.1% ABV) with natural color (golden syrup) and is non-chill filtered. The aroma starts with sherry-like citrus, lemons, and raisins. After some time, it shifts to dark cherries and dates, new leather, and cocoa powder. Softer notes like coconut cream, vanilla, and fudge emerge, along with toasted oak and a subtle thread of smoke. Plums, prunes, and floral notes are also present. There's a lot of American oak influence, offering notes of ripe banana, caramel, toffee, and perhaps some almonds. It's very mature, full, and rich. The palate is surprisingly peppery and powerful, a stark contrast to the nose. It has sherry oak, leather, and cherry syrup. Like the aroma, I detect coconut cream, cocoa, and vanilla. There's a faint orange note, along with caramel, cinnamon, and clove. It's followed by more peppery intensity. It has a very oily texture. It's mouthwatering initially but dries out. The finish is medium-long, slightly smoky with sherry oak and cherry. I wasn't sure what to expect, but I'm certainly not disappointed. It's powerful yet elegant. As good as it is, I think I prefer a different blend. The palate was the deciding factor; it's too intense for relaxed sipping unless diluted, which I don't prefer. Still, I'm very glad to have tasted this very limited release. Thanks to my friend. It's closer to 4.25 than 4.5. Cheers

Let's talk about the presentation first. This might be my favorite bottle design from this brand ever. Simple gold marker on nearly opaque black glass. The inexpensive box features nice gold foil and a lining with witty remarks. It's perfect. The spirit itself playfully challenges those who dismiss grain whisky in favor of malt, many of whom have never tasted quality aged grain whisky. It's a perfect response to past whisky snobbery. Cheers to a quality product without the pretentiousness! Now for the aroma. This is heading towards sherry bomb territory. Spices, dark fruits, with an underlying custard and vanilla. You can detect oils and a waxy note on the nose; I'm shocked it's not a blend from that distillery known for such notes, as it fits their profile. However, I'm not surprised about the presence of Caol Ila. On the palate, the waxy, fruity, oily notes are prominent. A complex sweetness is layered with baking spices. There might be notes of corn candy, which could deter some, but it quickly builds back to the fruity sherry notes that most purchasers of this bottle would expect. The finish is long, spicy, and savory with a persistent underlying candy sweetness. Another outstanding release from this brand. I was fortunate to find an old bottle. This spirit holds its own against much more expensive offerings. Completely worth it, and the playful jabs at snobbery add to the enjoyment. To think someone could drink this and still consider grain whisky inferior is utter blasphemy.

This confirms my strong liking for Compass Box. While their bottles are becoming more and more expensive, as seen with their latest products, they do create excellent spirits. The team has once again demonstrated the art behind blending. Anyone can mix spirits, but it takes a true artist-chemist to select the right proportions, ages, and casks to achieve perfection. I'm not particularly fond of their marketing or their rebellious advertising style (like "3", which contains a small amount of 3-year-old Clynelish, and the rest is 20+ year old Talisker and Clynelish), but they do produce good spirits. This has a hint of smoke and sweetness, distinctly Caol Ila. And it's a well-behaved Caol Ila, clearly aged. Smoke and chocolate on the nose. A luxuriously creamy, smoky, milky texture on the palate. It's simply a well-crafted blend. (Johnnie Walker, are you taking notes?) Many thanks to a friend for providing a generous sample! When I open my "3", I'll need to send you a sample.