Compass Box The Circus is another new limited edition blend. The reference to a circus was chosen for its ephemeral character (just one night in town). A whisky for special occasions, they say.
The heart of this whisky is formed by parcels of blended malt whisky that were “forgotten” in marrying casks a long time ago. Compass Box knows very little about the composition of these blends, apart from the fact that they’re old and spent over two thirds of their maturation in marrying casks. It was then completed by some old grain whisky and younger Benrinnes.
This is the complete recipe for this composition:
- 57% of blended malt, marrying for a very long time in a refill sherry butt
- 26% of blended grain whisky, also married in a refill sherry butt
- 15% of Benrinnes single malt from a first-fill sherry butt
- a tiny amount of blended malt from a refill sherry butt
Compass Box The Circus
(49%, Compass Box 2016, 2490 btl.)
Compass Box The CircusNose: elegant, layered whisky. A wee mustiness at first, then classic sherry notes, dried fruits and some roasted pecans. Orange cake and a little tobacco. A light sourness and a faint hint of marzipan as well.
Mouth: more sherry character, but a little lightweight. Red berries, overripe damsons and a more vague fruit compote. I guess the grain component is at the right level, certainly not unnoticeable but no roughness whatsoever. Fades on malty notes, mocha, toffee and nougat, with a light fruity sourness.
Finish: long, on fruit cake, tobacco and hints of Cognac.
Good whisky, similar to the “forgotten” old blends and vatted malts that we’re recently seeing from so many independent bottlers. Actually I didn’t expect creators like Compass Box to go down that same street of undisclosed (and in a way ready-made) components? Tasty but it definitely ends below Flaming Heart or The General. Around € 250.
Score: 87/100