LeeEvolved
Compass Box Bounty Hunter
Blended — Scotland
Reviewed
May 30, 2018 (edited October 21, 2024)
This is my first bespoke bottle from Compass Box Whisky: Bounty Hunter. This was a blend created for a private entity, Bounty Hunter Wine & Spirits, out of Napa, California. They commissioned John Glaser to create a limited, 369 total bottle count, offering to be sold exclusively at their store and online. The limited nature of this one probably led to the high price of $150, rather than the whiskies used. It’s a tasty blend, but it’s certainly NOT worth the asking price.
It’s a beautiful, yellow gold and makes skinny, rapidly running legs in the Glencairn. There’s tons of tiny beads left near the lip that indicate it wasn’t watered down by much to the advertised 46% ABV. This blend was created in June 2017 and bottled in October of the same year. I didn’t email CBW for the exact makeup of this because it wasnt distinct enough for me to go through the trouble. It tastes similar to Double Single/Lost Blend/Hedonism. Aka- grainy, waxy and fruity.
The nose is kind of bland: candied corn, light orchard fruits, melted candle wax with a very weak oak profile. I didn’t detect any smoke, so I’d be surprised if this had any Islay or Island components in excess of 5-10%. If there’s any at all. I’d wager there’s lots of Clynelish and/or Dailuaine present.
The palate is dominated by the wax notes that seem to power every CBW blend that’s not focused on smoke. The grainy notes aren’t front and center here, either and that’s a good thing IMO. It’s very smooth with some light sherry and apples and pears. It’s all too similar to a lot of the recent CBW malts I’ve had recently.
The finish is medium to long. It’s starts out oily but turns to dry oak and sawdust with what could be perceived as smoke, but I think it’s just a hint of perhaps a heavily charred, ex-bourbon cask. It’s definitely not meaty, more like a whiff of a campfire that was tamped out hours earlier.
As it is, it’s a solid CBW. Bounty Hunter is overcharging by a significant margin, though. This is an $80 bottle at best and I’d argue you can get 1/2 of the way there with the Glasgow blend and the other half with Lost Blend or Phenomenology. 3.75 stars, but I gotta dock it for the price. 3 total stars. If you’re collecting bottles, maybe buy it- but if your looking for a great CBW bottle I’d definitely save your money and look elsewhere. Cheers.
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@Rick_M. I actually had to Google “stock certificates”. There was a time when a broker gave you a paper proof of stock ownership!?! There was a time there were brokers?!?
@LeeEvolved, there’s no saving you. :)
@Rick_M - I don’t know anything about stock certificates...I like to keep my investments “fluid” (ha, pun).
Why not roll up some Google stock certificates and smoke ‘em while your at it. Why skimp? :)
Wow! Those are some nice bottles. I have one or two really nice ones to pick from. Definitely need to send off with the good stuff
@LeeEvolved nice! We’ll be going out with a bang.
@PBMichiganWolverine - I’ve got a bottle of the Kilchoman Port Finished coming in a few days, too. Probably open that and send it as well. Then maybe a surprise or two by the time August arrives... Bringing the SDT to a close with a bang!
@LeeEvolved nice! So we have 2 great HPs, the Feis Ile 2018 Lag, the Vinho Barrique, and the handfilled Bunna 14 yr old Moine oloroso
@PBMichiganWolverine - what!? Holy crap, that was a fantastic dram from Whiskyfest. I’m really excited for that one. Big thanks! I’m considering sending pours of the HP Light and Dark since I have 2 bottles of each and I really want to try The Light. The Dark was my fav from Whiskyfest so I’m sure you guys will absolutely love that one!
@LeeEvolved I added Kavalan Vinho Barrique as well.
@PBMichiganWolverine - plus, between me and you (aka don’t tell @Telex and @Generously_Paul)- I plan on opening some really nice bottles in celebration of completion of the SDT- sending everyone some really nice pours. I see you’ve already listed a couple nice ones- I say we blow this thing out come August. We gotta make it our own personal festival... cuairt taigh-staile na h-alba That’s the Gaelic translation for Scottish Distillery Tour Completion. Maybe I’ll get shirts made with that printed on them lol
@LeeEvolved good point—-post SDT , a little break, and will be back into the game. Hmmm...maybe I’ll hold off on the market sell. 😀
@PBMichiganWolverine - wow, 460 bottles whittled down to 4-5? That’s a massive sell off. I feel somewhat responsible because of this SDT stuff. I think once it’s over and we start trading 5 star drams you’ll get your groove back haha.
@LeeEvolved if you’re interested in Delilah, I saw that bottom of the shelf at Berkeley wine. I can see if it’s still available and send it to you. Let me know.
@LeeEvolved yeah—-I’m seriously thinking of selling some of my stash. There’s no way I can possibly drink 2 Broras, 3 Karuizawas, 3 Hanyus, and 450+ other bottles. Just starting to lose interest. So...im thinking like a stock, I might as well sell in the market while the demand is high. Might keep about 4-5 gems though,
@PBMichiganWolverine - are you seriously thinking about selling some bottles at auction? I’m kind of interested in that Delilah’s bottle. Are you only looking to sell for the crazy auction prices or can I get the whisky buddy price, lol?
@Rick_M nice...thanks! Worst case, I’d do a drive up to Boston. Nice little tour from central NJ
@PBMichiganWolverine, I plan to use Skinner, Inc. in the Boston area. They have wine & spirit auctions every 2 months and are within driving distance for me. Prices realized are typically what they would bring in the UK. Fedex only allows spirit shipments between dealers. I checked with a company in Queens, NY that forwards shipments from the Whisky Exchange in the UK. I’m trying to find out if they will do the reverse. They are checking and getting back to me. I’ll let you know.
@Rick_M how do we get bottles there to sell? I got The General, Delilah’s, the original Double Single, and 2 experimental blends.
The 4 bottles of Bounty Hunter finished the auction at £300 per, which translates to about $440 after commissions and exchange rate. 3 bottles of CB Rivals sold at an average of £155 ($225). A bottle of CB The Muse recently sold for £340 ($520).
@LeeEvolved, auction results on 4 more bottles coming later today. They’re not doing nowhere near as well.
@Rick_M - all bottles are now sold out. Hmm, perhaps I’ll sell my second bottle...
@Rick_M no one is buying it to drink
@Richard-ModernDrinking, still trying to figure out the fascination with this release. Maybe the mystique of CA over in the UK. I wonder if they have any left. :)
@Rick_M Good grief!
@LeeEvolved, this whisky set another record today at auction (£520.00). With buyers premium and exchange rate, it cost the buyer $795.
@LeeEvolved - Gee, maybe I shouldn’t have bought a whole case. :)
Hey Lee Happy 300th review milestone! Long may your liver last to sustain at least another 300 highly entertaining reviews!
@PBMichiganWolverine - I agree, BH is a seriously expensive shop and I don’t see myself spending much money there, and don’t get me started over Flask. I made 1 big bottle purchase from them and I don’t think I’ll ever buy from them again. I hadn’t seen a GlenDronach 33 anywhere else, so I bit.
@LeeEvolved. I’ve found Bounty Hunter generally high priced. But not as bad as Flask Fine wine..they’re just silly high.