Tastes

No 2 on my Paul John tasting spree. Honey and liquorice as per tasting notes. I was advised not to add water but this definitely needs it. Few drops opened up a bit but preferred even less to the Brilliance

I was lucky to attend a tasting with the founder of the distillery for their full flight of mainstream whiskies. This was the first cab off the rank. Lets see, honey, bit of spice. Unfortunately the alcohol even though only 46% overpowers the flavour profile. It's a younger whisky - several years old - with little viscosity or length of finish. Wouldn't buy a bottle

Damn fine drop. It retails here in NZ around the $100 USD mark a 50% mark up to the Laga 16. I opened it a few months ago and put it head to head against the 16. I like them both equally I think. The richness and sweetness of the PX adds another nice dimension. I made the mistake of bringing it along with the Ledaig 10 and Ardbeg 10 to a whiskey tasting session I was running a few weeks ago. The two 10 year olds weren't really touched. This bottle however got destroyed in next to no time. I managed to salvage a miserly 1/4 of the bottle which I am now slowly eaking out :-) Update: Still a nice dram but the latest ones haven't hit the mark as well. Not sure if my palate or changing quality.

I'd already thought about the start of this narrative before I even drank this whisky. Peat Monster..does it live up to its name? I had a feeling no and I was right. It wasn't the full in your face peat experience its name suggests but despite that I wasn't disappointed. Ledaig 10ish I thought so let's put them head to head. Interesting..the Ledaig 10 had greater intensity but what I found surprising was I got more complexity and less harshness (prob not that surprisingly as Ledaig isn't the smoothest drop) from the Compass Box and it was newly opened. What it did come down to is what did I prefer. Peat Monster by a head. It's making me question the 4 rating I gave the Ledaig 10 now

They say casks impart up to 2/3rds of the flavour. I reckon completely unscientifically it may be more. First fill casks...well really 2nd if its ex bourbon and used for whisky are a favourite of mine. Sherry, bourbon whatever. Give me what the cask has to offer and give it in spades. This is a good cask it seems. The vanilla and honey notes mute that damn turpentine note I was getting from some of the other compass box range. Do i prefer it to the spice box...I think maybe not. It's slightly same same to other whiskies out there given the strong honey and vanilla. I really think I need to compare to a similar profile scotch malt to accurately assess but for now I'll give this a high 3 which translates to a 4

Aha now we are talking. 3rd time lucky. Now call me xenophobic if you will but I have a slight love of European Oak over American. Don't get me wrong. I love honey almost as much as the next bear and vanilla is my favorite milkshake..both of which american oak imparts in spades (well depending how many times its been refilled but not let's get pedantic..). European oak though hmmm...lovely lovely spice, toffee orange or is it caramel..hmm. 2, 3 and then now a 4 rating in my compass box journey. Still that astringent note almost turpentine I can't shake but what the hell 4 it is (high 3's to be precise as that turpentine aftertaste is really bugging me now)

Maybe the bar was set low having just tried the Asyla but this was definitely a step up. Reminds me of a thinner bodied irish pot still whisky. Now I'm not going to get carried away and start waxing lyrically as it has a slight astringency and its not nearly in the same class as a Redbreast, Powers or really any decent Irish pot still given it lacks the viscosity but at least this 50ml sample in the gift box selection is heading in the right direction. Definitely wouldn't buy a bottle

Disappointment is driven by expectations. I'd put aside my prejudices about blends as Compass Boxes reputation was going to transcend those however I also realised the collective wisdom on this site was this isn't a great whisky or at least one of the least favorite of the selection. Still despite my tempered expectations it didn't even live up to those. My prejudices were unfortunately realised in trying the 50ml sample in the gift pack. Nothing going on. Literally nothing but thin sweetness. To be fair I trend towards the intense flavour profile. Sherry bombs the peatiest Islay...but still I'm searching for anything. Maybe if I try this after not drinking a few beers and the sample has been opened a while it'll improve but I have a feeling it'll be struggling to jump a star.

Great drop. Lovely balance of sweetness and peat. The peat isn't as diminished as the 18 year which I like. Tried after a 55% Edradour so taste buds are muted but have a bottle at home and will have to retry. Still prefer the intensity and medicinal flavour of the 10 year or An Cuan...

Hmm. Beautiful honey viscosity but honestly Red Breast 15 or Powers John Lane 12 at 1/3rd the price taste the same and are just as good. Yellow Spot is better as that has complexity and this is more one dimensional. It's slightly astringent or hot for the abv. Was tempted to factor price in and drop it to a three rating but given its been drunk with a flight of other whiskies and not a full opened bottle over time 4 it is. I am sorely tempted though..if a half star rating comes available on distiller this is getting rated down due to exorbitant price. Update 10/19. Ok having retried this by itself at leisure my rating hasn't changed to much. It's a great dram but don't think it's excellent. For the price you can do better.