Overview: Compass Box introduces a limited-edition blended Scotch whisky that prioritizes recipe transparency. The release combines three single malts aged exactly ten years in first-fill bourbon barrels. Each bottle is individually numbered, marking a decade of advocacy for openness within the industry.
The Full Story
Uncorking the latest release from Compass Box offers no ambiguity regarding its contents. The expression carries the pointed name This is a 10-Year-Old Whisky, placing the exact age and provenance of every whisky in the bottle front and centre. Distributed worldwide via The Whisky Exchange, this limited-edition blend highlights the manufacturer’s commitment to clarity. For enthusiasts, the published proportions make this an unusually transparent bottle to dissect.
Production & Profile
All three malts were matured in first-fill bourbon barrels, with Clynelish accounting for 66.5% of the recipe, peated Ardnamurchan 20.2% and unpeated Ardnamurchan 13.3%. The whisky is bottled at 50.5% ABV, with no artificial colouring and no chill-filtration. Clynelish contributes its familiar waxy, coastal character, while the peated Ardnamurchan brings smoke and structure. The unpeated Ardnamurchan adds further Highland character. Compass Box describes the resulting whisky as light and glossy, with a flavour profile that moves firmly into festive dessert territory. The supplied tasting notes begin on the nose, where Pink Lady apple and rhubarb crumble sit alongside custard and pineapple upside-down cake. The palate is described as waxy, glossy and transparent in texture, with flavours of lemon iced butter biscuits, creamy white chocolate, vanilla panna cotta and soft apricots, followed by nutmeg on sweet oats and French fancies. The finish brings lush buttery pastry, candied lemon and a hint of charred oak.
Brand & Industry History
The precise 10-year age statement isn’t just a marketing wheeze. Under Scotch whisky regulations, the age statement on a blend reflects the age of its youngest component. A bottle carrying a 10-year statement can contain older whiskies, although the individual ages and proportions are not necessarily disclosed. Compass Box is taking a more transparent approach here, publishing the recipe, age and origin of each component. The release also marks ten years since the London-based Scotch whisky maker began publicly advocating for greater transparency in Scotch whisky recipes.
What This Means
This specific release underscores a shift towards openness within the production landscape. By explicitly stating that the precise 10-year age statement reflects the youngest component while publishing the full recipe, the brand challenges standard industry norms where individual ages and proportions remain undisclosed. This approach validates the age claim through total disclosure rather than relying on regulatory minimums alone.
Consumer Takeaway
Priced at £64, This is a 10-Year-Old Whisky is available from The Whisky Exchange. There are 3,610 individually numbered bottles being released worldwide.
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