Compass Box Art & Decadence Blended Scotch

Volume: 0.7 litres | Alcohol content: 49% | Chill filtration: No | Colouring: No

Special Features:

Art & Decadence explores the interplay between malt whisky and dessert wine casks. Its foundation is Balmenach whisky, finished separately for just under a year in former Sauternes, Madeira and Marsala casks. These finishes add macerated fruit and a honeyed character to the malt's meaty sweetness.

Linkwood contributes malt whisky matured in Palo Cortado-seasoned Butts used for whisky maturation for the first time. Glen Moray adds malt whisky finished in first-fill Oloroso sherry Butts. Single grain whisky from the now-closed Port Dundas distillery, matured in refill sherry Butts, gives the composition a silky texture. A further Blended Scotch component was matured predominantly in recharred American oak Barrels.

Released in November 2023, this edition comprises 9,496 bottles. The whisky is bottled at 49% and retains its natural colour. Rather than chill filtration, it undergoes light filtration through a 10-micrometre filter. The label and gift packaging draw on the beauty, abundance and ornamentation of Britain's Aesthetic and Decadent movements of the late 19th century. As an accompaniment to desserts, chocolate and cheese, it suits the final course of a meal.

Tasting Notes:

• Nose: The nose opens with red apples, waxed wood and wine notes. These are followed by creamy liquorice notes and pronounced aromas of banana, toffee and vanilla cream, intertwined with Sauternes.
• Palate: On the palate, dried fruits, particularly golden raisins and apricots, combine with apple and plenty of vanilla.
• Finish: Dark chocolate and fragrant oak linger on the finish.

Distillery/Bottler:

Founded in 2000, Compass Box develops its Scotch compositions in its Blending Room in Richmond, London. The company works with its own stocks of maturing whiskies in Scotland. Its role is to combine and further develop whiskies from different distilleries, rather than distil them. Component selection goes hand in hand with the deliberate use of different cask maturation approaches. James Saxon was the lead whiskymaker responsible for Art & Decadence.

Facts: