Compass Box Vellichor

Compass Box Vellichor is a blend of 12.1% Macallan in first fill bourbon, 38.9% Highland Park in recharred hogshead, 15.6% blended Scotch parcel in refill sherry, 29.3% blended malt parcel in refill sherry, and 4.1% Caol Ila in refill hogshead. It is no age statement, bottled at 44.6%, and sells for around $400-500. This is the second-best bottle of Compass Box that I’ve purchased, opened, and enjoyed, only behind the legendary Flaming Heart 2015 edition. The hefty price tag is justified because you just can’t find this style of Scotch hanging around on liquor store shelves anymore. The word “vellichor” is a noun that describes the nostalgia that book nerds feel when sniffing the air of an old, used bookstore. I have no fetish for old books, but I guess I am a nerd for old Scotch whiskies and this leather, dust, and wood profile is one of my favorite profiles. Normally, I would have to stop at a ridiculously stocked whisky bar like Jack Rose in DC or The Whiskey House in San Diego and order an $80 pour from an old and obscure independent bottle to get an experience like this, but I can now grab a pour from my own shelf. This whisky lives up to its name: A dusty, leather-bound book is what you get on the nose, but also apples, dark chocolate, and crème brulee. The palate features the delicate and expensive taste of old Macallan and Highland Park without the sherry - heather, honey, earth, dark chocolate, white pepper, vanilla, overripe orchard fruits, and an occasional hint of fig and basalmic vinegar. For as much hate as Macallan gets these days, the base spirit is distinct and legendary; and a Macallan aged exclusively in bourbon casks is rare, underrated, and allows the spirit to shine much brighter than the usual sherry matured expressions. I am not saying that if you gave this to me blind, I would be able to say that it contained Macallan, but the fact that Macallan is in this blend does not surprise me, and the Macallan makes this a distinct Compass Box release. The leather re-emerges and the peat from Caol Ila announces itself towards the end of the palate and during a long and nuanced finish. Each sip of this is something you will need to hold in your mouth for a long time to get the full experience; this is not a whisky that grabs your attention, but it is one that deserves your attention. I once tasted this whisky blind side by side with a Hazelburn 21 and a Springbank 21; two other whiskies that are dusty, yet bright and fruity. I liked this one the most, and it was not even close. Springbank 21, these days, is a $1000 bottle on the shelf. So, even if you are paying $500 for Vellichor, if you like the idea of being transported back into a time when a bookstore was the Internet, and people died of dysentery on the Oregon Trail, this is a worthwhile and magical experience. In fact, it is a little blasphemous for me to type a review on something that you are probably accessing through an app on your smart phone - I should be truly writing this review out, ink on parchment.

Nice, really smooth and oily for sure. Nose is sweet, floral, refreshing, lemon, caramel, peach, caramel, old wood(?). Hard to give 5 honestly, the abv should've been higher to bring out explosive Nose, Taste, and Finish. This whiskey is quite a mild guy, he keeps reminding me of old memories (The finish is interesting, not powerful, but really long and makes me want to taste again.).

Unremarkable but nice nose, red fruit, light caramel, nice but nothing special

As another reviewer said let’s forgot price point on this for a second. It’s an old, meaty and floral whisky with the HP and Mortlach taking centre stage. It’s really nice but there was a lot of oak in there that has been balanced down well but as a whole the whisky doesn’t quite reach greatness. Damn delicious though and only let down on the finish

I think what's in here has been well enough documented. So lets just jump in? Nose - So for me at least this is pretty classic compass box, really old in nature, and not much more. I think the low abv is a serious concern here. So yellowed paper, leather, and I guess old wood shelving? I can't say that I'm getting that per say. A bit of leather for sure. Some musty notes, but I'm just thinking vanilla from bourbon barrels. Maybe that's me. Does the grain really come in or is that the macallan first fill bourbon? Who knows. Some hints of red fruits and vague chocolate as well. It's really just well aged and balanced whisky, you'd never think blend otherwise. The peat is minimal. Taste - The proof just doesn't hold up at all up front. Really nice creamy vanilla, white fudge. Really simple up front. Once you swallow the mouth is coated with rich OLD world whisky. There's a LOT of older HP elements coming out here. Good touches of heather honey and light peat. Rich old oaks. Water doesn't seem to do much here. I went light on the pour and the water so there is that. Slight reduction in the oak and leather on the nose, mild push towards more vanilla. Similar changes to the taste. Rich old whisky, muted with age, and not worth this price point for most geeks. This is a whisky for a macallan fan who believes in their pricing and is happy to pay it. Still, it's good stuff. 3.0 and only because of the finish. At this weight and body it really should be closer to a 2.0.

Not a review — just a posting of the components and their volume % : 23yr Macallan first full bourbon, 12.1% 25yr Highland Park, Recharred hogsheads, 38.9% 25 blended scotch ,refill Sherry butt, 15.6% 25yr blended malt, refill Sherry butt, 29.3% 37yr Caol Ila , 4.1%, refill hogsheads Impressively well aged. But close 50% is their own blend. Nice to see a well aged Macallan and HP in there, and in substantial percentage.