Compass Box Orchard House

Light, apple, crisp.

Nose - at neck pour, very subtle smell of flowers/daisies, not much. Subsequent drams I got a lot more sweetness and apple, tingles the nose. Kenz says stone fruits Taste - apricots and honey flood the palate and pulsating waves of flavor, neck pour wasn't as vibrant Finish - neck pour was a short lived finish with not much to note, subsequent drams I got a vibrant and long finish with some fruity notes, honey, and spices Score - 4.0, first pour on this was not good, gotta let it sit and BAM, it comes to life. Fruity fun mix on this one if that's what you're going for Scoring Legend 5.0 - Outstanding, unmatched to others 4.5 - Excellent, I will always keep a bottle in stock if possible 4.0 - Very good, quite enjoyable to drink, can consider as a solid choice 3.5 - Good, would taste again 3.0 - Average 2.5 - Acceptable, still drinkable 2.0 - Inferior, able to drink but not enjoyable 1.5 and below—wouldn’t drink again unless I am desperate

Easy drinker, Honey, vanilla, tea. Very enjoyable. Hard to find the uniqueness.

Yet another beautiful looking bottle from Compass Box. This time a fruity promise: "Orchard House".  The official disclosure for this blend is There’s 39% Linkwood, 29% Clynelish and 20% Benrinnes, 2% Caol ila and some other highland malts, all aged 8 years in first-fill bourbon barrels, plus minor parts of Aberlour (Oloroso seasoned butt), Caol Ila (first-fill bourbon) and their signature Highland Malt blend (custom French oak barrel). Pale straw color, bottled at 46%abv. On the Nose, super fresh pears as soon as you uncork the bottle. There is some fruit spiciness. Pear peel. Cinnamon stick. Dim dulce leche. Dry peaches. Red apple peel. After a first sip, definitively toffee and honey. On the palate, it is easy drinkable. Honey. This is a very light dram. Yellow apples. There is this creaminess typical from Compass Box Whiskies. Apples, sider. The third sip was all about a thick fancy toffee, with a hint of cinnamon spice. Afterstate is all about hay and tobbacco. Salty. Very grassy. Aftertaste is a "Cowboy heaven". Dry finish, medium long. Waxy. Malted barley. Overall, even if i am not a super fan of overly fruity-speyside whiskies, this is a nice offering. I really like the different tone of the aftertaste, it gave me a pleasure experience. Compass Box delivers their promise of a fruity whisky, which is nice for consumers. My score for it is 83 over 100.

3.0 Stars - Good; 750 ml bottle Four more years! Four more years! The apple does not fall far from the Johnnie Walker tree. This is a well made and distinctive blend with ample amounts of Linkwood and Clynelish. It is one thing to understand where the market is going. It is something else to capitalize on the changing environment. Well aged, high quality, affordable whiskey is now hard to source. This is new make, 1st full bourbon barrels, aged by Compass Box approximately 8 years. This flavor profile fits in nicely with their portfolio of Spice Tree, Peat Monster, and Story of a Spaniard. However, I wish this was 4 years older with the same $60 price point as those other three. Aroma and flavor is overripe fruit, almost like a five day old fruit salad of apples, pears, pineapple and grapes. Crazy easy to drink for 46% ABV. Young notes are small and well hidden. If there is a higher aged, special edition of this whiskey, I would buy it in a second.

NOSE Fresh and dried apples, honey, marzipan, graham, subtle baking spice and hints of banana chips and sultanas. As it opens there’s a wisp of a floral note, but on the whole it’s fruity and honey sweet. PALATE Fresh and dried apples, honey, malty sweetness, marzipan, baking spice and hints of banana chips, graham. A near carbon copy of the aroma. FINISH Medium -> Apple-heavy orchard fruit, malt and a touch of oak fade out with some baking spice.

It’s a good blend, fruity, malt and a little spice, quite silky, not outstanding in anyway. What I found most interesting about this whiskey is that when I added it to some of my infinity/blend bottles it added a great silky component.