Compass Box Hedonism

From Compass Box sample box containing five different 50mL vials from their “core range.” I was able to get this on sale for $30. Hedonism is the most expensive in this package, at ~$140 for a 750mL bottle. Hedonism is a vatted grain whisky, which is super unusual. There is only one “mainstream” one: Haig Club, which I’ve never tried because it is expensive and everyone except David Beckham believes this is garbage. Grain is typically thought of as the cheap filler in blended Scotches, but Compass Box has set out to prove that a properly matured grain can be quite palatable. NOSE: Sweet and pleasant. Meat from old brown coconuts, vanilla, caramel, crème fraiche. Wood varnish is in the background and because I do not have a sweet-tooth, this was the most interesting note. Fruity notes are pears and apples, but these are subtle. This smells a lot like an expensive bourbon. PALATE: Arrival is a big wallop of coconut. As you sip more, it becomes very much like a bourbon. Adding water speeds up this transition. A floral oakiness is in the background. This is very, very sweet. Almost no salt. It needs salt. FINISH: Bourbon, but better. Caveat is I’ve never bothered to spend hundreds of dollars on a bottle of bourbon, and now I have even less reason to, because if I felt that insane, I would just buy a bottle of Hedonism. Coconut and vanilla remains, but there is a pleasant rich caramel liqueur that lingers. Imagine a Bounty chocolate bar filled with alcohol… with some nutmeg and cinnamon. VERDICT: Dessert drink, definitely. I’m just not sold on grain whisky. Old Girvan single grains are even more coconut-y. It’s hard to back a spirit trying to approach a Pina Colada. I’m almost thankful Hedonism is a little more youthful. This is definitely better than the rubbish they fill Johnny Walker bottles with, but I am on the fence about picking up a full bottle. I think I can do better with $140 to spend on an actual bourbon. MARK: 82/100.

Geekfest 8. Paired with Asyla. Hedonism, the expected frontrunner, was disappointing.

Soft, cake, cream, vanilla, lighter, mild, med long finish