While the regular Hedonism is a vatted grain, this Compass Box Hedonism – 10th Anniversary Limited Edition was a single grain whisky, distilled in 1971 at the Invergordon distillery.
Contrary to other Compass Box releases, this was bottled from a single cask, which means it was very very limited.
Invergordon 38 yo 1971 Hedonism – 10th Anniversary (46%, Compass Box 2010, cask #3, 120 btl.)
Invergordon 38 yo 1971 Hedonism – 10th Anniversary (46%, Compass Box 2010, cask #3, 120 btl.)Nose: closer to a good bourbon than a grain whisky, I’d say. Nice leather and banana notes, some toasted oak and wood glue / varnish. Vanilla cake. Quite fruity (figs, cherries). Hints of roasted coffee beans. Minty overtones. A little coconut, but more in the background.
Mouth: a fruity start again (pineapple, tangerine), then mint and resinous oak. Vanilla and a good dose of nutmeg. Evolves mostly on herbal notes (sage, eucalyptus, menthol).
Finish: long, more menthol notes, with some pine sap and peach.
Complex grain whisky, more subtle and elegant than most other grains. Closer to bourbon whiskey as well. One of the best grain whiskies I could try. Long gone now. Thanks for the sample, Luc.
Score: 90/100