ctbeck11
Compass Box No Name
Blended Malt — Scotland
Reviewed
March 13, 2021 (edited December 11, 2022)
Nose - strong peat, iodine, smoked meat, menthol, sunscreen, chalk, mint, black pepper, ash, mellow oak, lemon, coconut, old book, tar, leather, apple skin, vanilla, toffee, grass, moderate to high ethanol burn.
Taste - iodine, menthol, smoked meat, strong peat, brine, apple, grass, lemon zest, salted caramel, cocoa, anise, rubber, pear, leather, spicy oak, chili pepper, vanilla, high alcohol bite, finishing medium long with menthol, citrus zest, iodine, and chili pepper flavors.
This is some powerful stuff. The Ardbeg and Caol Ila footprints are front and center. I can’t find an age statement on the components, but I’m guessing there’s some young stock included, as the peat is potent and acrid. The nose is all menthol, smoked meat, and iodine. The Clynelish makes an appearance in the palate, with that characteristic waxy fruitiness, but it’s very much in the background.
This is great whiskey. However, the menthol notes are extremely powerful, making it rather difficult to identify some of the more nuanced aromas and flavors. It’s very reminiscent of having Vicks VapoRub on my chest when I was sick as a child. I know this note comes from the high proof Ardbeg, as I’ve smelled it before, but I wish it were less pronounced here. Nonetheless, it’s hard to complain too much about this. I would always be happy to have a glass. As usual, a big thank you to @jonwilkinson7309 for providing the sample.
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@Jose-Massu-Espinel Thank you! I’ve seen that series in the stores many times. Always passed on it because of the price and my lack of knowledge. I’ll keep the recommendation in mind next time I cross paths with that one.
@Soba45 Sounds like you picked a good one. It’s difficult to find much to complain about in the Springbank core range. Same with their Hazelburn and Longrow lineups. They’re either great or fantastic in my experience.
great review. i loved this whisky. it is one of my two favorite Compass Box, the other one is Myths and Legends III
@ctbeck11 Yeah I went to hard for to long and started to become a bit of a chore in the end ! Quite enjoying just have 1 bottle at a time to work though. Just finishing up bottle of Springbank 15. Will take another break after that i think.
@PBMichiganWolverine Awesome! That would be much appreciated. Would be an interesting comparison. I’m generally partial to the Talisker flavor profile, so that one might be more my speed.
@Soba45 Same! These days, the bulk of the time I drink I’m analyzing and writing reviews. I get a lot out of it, but it saps some of the enjoyment from the experience as well. For example, this Compass Box is excellent whiskey, probably better than most people will drink in their lives, but the analyst in me hyperfocuses on the negatives, even if they’re really minor. Maybe I should divide each of my samples in two, one for the review and one for the enjoyment.
I might have a sample of No Name 2...will send it over next time—-it’s Talisker instead of Ardbeg
This first batch had some well aged Ardbeg ( 18+ I think ? Don’t quote me on it ). Personally I loved it. Ran out and bought one more at the time.
Yeah sometimes you get certain notes or flavors that really kill the enjoyment of a spirit. Dr Pepper flavor in bourbon, acidic type peat in whiskey, floral flavours in gin. The problem after trying so much is i'm just so damn fussy it's hard to get something i'm like that's awesome these days!
@CKarmios Thanks! I had the benefit of knowing the blend components ahead of time, but Ardbeg and Caol Ila at this potency aren’t too difficult to discern.
Great notes identifying constituent malts. This blend has quite the reputation.