Since 2000, Compass Field has pushed to outline their very own existence within the Scotch world. “Completely different than a distiller, greater than a blender” is one brand-approved tagline, although “whiskymakers” is the final word self-coined time period they return to time and time once more.
To the corporate’s credit score, their whiskies — sourced, completed, and blended in often-dizzying permutations — are normally something however boring. The most recent creation is known as Secrets and techniques of Smoke, a mix supposed to showcase “the curiously candy layers tucked away inside peated whiskies.”
Below the steering of Lead Whiskymaker James Saxon, Secrets and techniques of Smoke is a fancy concoction that includes distillate from Ardmore, Caol Ila, Laphroaig, and Bowmore, together with two of Compass Field’s present blended malt parcels. These whiskies are aged and completed throughout all kinds of American oak (included some re-charred), sherry, and wine casks.
It’s sufficient to make a sober head spin, and fortunately, Compass Field contains the mix’s full graphical and numerical breakdowns on their web site.
The ultimate product is bottled at 52 p.c abv, with a launch measurement numbering 9,792 bottles worldwide. Secrets and techniques of Smoke is bottled at its pure shade after passing by way of a “mild 5 micron filter” with no chill filtering. Let’s see the way it tastes!
I’m undecided what number of secrets and techniques this whisky is hiding, however there’s actually a fancy array of smoky scents on the nostril. Toasted honeycomb, moist campfire embers, and lightweight pine tar kick issues off, with simply sufficient grilled orchard fruit to tug a bit of away from the smoke. Hefty salinity lies simply beneath and builds with time, together with natural notes of cardamom, roasted fennel in oil, and burnt butterscotch. On the nostril at the very least, it’s layered and mightily complicated — the kind of eyebrow-raising blended Scotch for which Compass Field is so well-known.
There’s a reasonably outlined taste narrative starting on the first sip. The whisky begins candy and fruity (assume extra of that orchard fruit, now cooked over a campfire). It turns into tart and cinnamon-spiced on the midpalate. Lastly, fruit flavors recede to disclose dry and dusted darkish chocolate, cappuccino, and probably the most “conventional” peat flavors of the complete dram. A little bit of that burnt butterscotch stays and turns into extra pronounced towards the again palate, pairing properly with the dusty and tannic darkish chocolate.
Secrets and techniques of Smoke ends on peat, however the end itself incorporates a number of pops of vivid fruit and extra sweetness, like blueberries doused in maple syrup.
Possibly I used to be too fast to query the existence of secrets and techniques right here. On the very least, Compass Field’s newest creation has twists and turns aplenty.
104 proof.
A- / $165 (700ml) / compassboxwhisky.com
Compass Field Secrets and techniques of Smoke
$165
