Compass Box Limited Experimental Grain Whiskey 750ml

Compass Box was founded in London in 2000 by John Glaser, an American who set out to revive the old model of the independent Scotch blending house rather than follow conventional distillery practice. The company built its reputation on transparency and boundary-pushing releases, and Experimental Grain Whisky was conceived as the wild counterpart to Hedonism, Compass Box's original blended grain expression, created under lead whiskymaker James Saxon.

This blend brings together four component whiskies, three of them classic grain spirit from the Cameronbridge and North British distilleries alongside Hedonism itself. The fourth and most unusual component is 100% peated malted barley from Loch Lomond Distillery, distilled in a column still rather than a pot still, which by Scottish regulation keeps it classified as grain whisky despite being made entirely from malt. That peated parcel lends the blend a smoky, herbal character rarely found in the grain category. It is bottled at 46% ABV, natural colour and non-chill filtered, as a limited edition of 6,142 bottles.

The nose contrasts banana and toffee with savory barbecue smoke and hints of rum and raspberry. On the palate, an oily, almond-and-vanilla base gives way to an unexpected note of burnt pine, closing on a finish that turns sweet and lightly floral as the smoke fades.