PBMichiganWolverine
Compass Box The Double Single
Blended — Scotland
Reviewed
January 1, 2018 (edited October 21, 2024)
Thanks to @LeeEvolved, I got to try this CB sample. You really have to hand it to Glaser and team. They produce fine blends, really push the boundaries on transparency, and offer everything from amazing entry level ( Great King St) to super-premium ( "3"). Out of all CB offerings, the only one I wouldn't drink again would be the Orangerie. Other than that orange Tang mess, every other one is a good to amazing. This here falls squarely in the "good" category. He's made a statement that he can create a fine blend by two simple ingredients. And it's a fine blend indeed, with a citrus forward nose and a woody vanilla waxiness on the palette. But at $150...I'm questioning if it's really that good. Just my opinion, but the No Name was basically all young Ardbeg at $100. This is basically a majority of Glen Elgin at well over $150. I'm finding that CB makes amazing core ranges, but their recent limited one-offs may be too expensive for what it offers. A good product, and definately something I'd have again, but not sure I'd buy it at $150. Also, interestingly, as transparent as CB is, I can be mistaken, but I don't think he's revealed the age statements of the two ingredients. Honestly...for $150, I want to know the age.
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@LeeEvolved @Rick_M oh it's a good whisky, and I'm probably splitting hairs...would certainly have again and often. I'd buy at$100. But if I had only $150, and walked into a store, would this be the one I buy? Probably not
@LeeEvolved, I have the formula from CB. The Glen Elgin piece is at least 20 years old.
The average age of whiskies in No Name is 13.68 years. The average age of whiskies in Phenomenology is 19.46 years. Before they released the formula I guessed “approximately 20 years” in my review.
I agree with ya, @PBMichiganWolverine. I did find out that the Glen Elgin was 19-year old, but I didn’t see any indication of age with the grain spirit. I think it’s a solid blend that just happens to be $50-60 overpriced IMO. Granted, I don’t know how much the sourced material was but I think it may have had more to do with the limited amount of supply vs how many bottles CBW was able to fill and bring to market.
You may not like the whisky, but when you take age into consideration, it’s not priced that badly.
I can tell you the Glen Elgin part is at least 20 years old, with the Girvan not being far behind. If you email the company they will give the exact breakdown, which they ask you to not fully share.
Very well said Pranay. The more we have to pay for a brand's name, the harder it is to justify if it's worth it.