Slainte-Mhath
Compass Box Flaming Heart (Sixth Edition)
Blended Malt — Scotland
Reviewed
December 31, 2022 (edited January 1, 2023)
When does a whisky label become art? Inspired by a rock song, Flaming Heart is definitely one of the most iconic Compass Box releases. On the nose, citrus fruits, brine and vegetal peat smoke outshine chamomile, white pepper and beeswax. Lovely Caol Ila signature. Honeyed in the arrival, peat and spices wrestle on the palate, while stewed fruits, walnuts and dark chocolate follow the spectacle. The finish pushes this malt to the next level, as drying oak, tobacco and a dash of salt surrender to honey, lemons and cloves. Exceptional blending at its best!
RATING: 4.4/5.0 stars ≙ 90 pts → SUPERB [-]
130.0
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@islay_emissary I am enjoying it tremendously! I was actually surprised by the tie, I thought No Name would be the clear winner. Probably would have been, if I was an Ardbeg fanboy.
And a happy new year to all! 🥃🥃
@Slainte-Mhath - i guess you liked it. 🙂 Happy New Year! 🥃🥃
@PBMichiganWolverine I am sipping a 2000 Port Dundas, liquid dessert style. Nothing to write home about, these mid-aged grains are still a bit rough on the palate. I wouldn't bother to write a review, too much of a hassle to add all these obscure bottles to Distiller. My goal for next year is the 500 reviews mark (on Whiskybase) and 1000 whiskies tasted.
@Slainte-Mhath nothing special…maybe dip into one of my open bottles. Yeah—-definitely hoping for a 2023 Norway visit. We’re doing South Africa / Botswana/ Victoria Falls in 2023, so might run out of travel budget…unless I dip into my whiskey budget 😀
@PBMichiganWolverine Any special pour for New Year's Eve? I hope you'll manage to travel to Norway in 2023, would be nice to share a dram or two!
@Slainte-Mhath happy New Years to you as well! I think for me, my whiskey of the year has to be the American BTAC George T Stagg bourbon. Beyond my price range unfortunately.
Happy New Year to all the malt mates, I wish you a healthy and successful 2023! Let's hope the world does not fall into more chaos than it did in 2022. I will raise a glass of Flaming Heart on all of you tonight!
WHISKY OF THE YEAR 2022: After I spent half a year reviewing the entire Compass Box core range and beyond, it was pretty obvious that my whisky of the year would be one of their offerings. Flaming Heart is the 2022 winner, probably because I love Caol Ila so much. Peat Monster would be the value pick, and No Name was a strong contender as well. Previously as 'Whisky of the Year': 2021 - Caol Ila 25; 2020 - Old grain whiskies (in particular Invergordon); 2019 - Yamazaki 12; 2018 – Springbank 12 CS; 2017 - GlenDronach 12; 2016 - Caol Ila 12.
Additional comment: I thought there would be a clear winner, comparing Compass Box No Name to Flaming Heart, but there isn't. It's a tie! If you are an Ardbeg fan, you will like No Name a little more. However, Caol Ila is my favorite distillery, and what Compass Box achieved with Flaming Heart is unmatched. The subtle sherry influence adds another layer of complexity, it fits just perfectly.
Additional information: This blended malt contains 39% Caol Ila, 29% Deanston, 17% Clynelish and 17% Highland malt blend.