Compass Box - Secrets of Smoke - Blended Malt Scotch Whiskey

Volume: 0.7 litres | Alcohol content: 52% | Chill filtration: No | Colouring: No

Special Features:

Secrets of Smoke brings together smoky malts and a carefully chosen range of wine cask types. The largest component is The Peat Monster from second-fill Spanish red wine casks. It is joined by Caol Ila from first-fill butts previously holding Palo Cortado sherry, Ardmore from first-fill sherry hogsheads and Laphroaig from first-fill Marsala barriques. Bowmore from refill bourbon barrels and a blended malt component drawn predominantly from recharred American oak hogsheads complete the recipe.

The cask selection brings out the sweet and fruity sides of the smoky whiskies: Caol Ila offers impressions of caramel apple, The Peat Monster contributes bright cherry notes, and Laphroaig recalls blueberries and oat biscuits. Other facets include nutty notes in the red-wine-matured The Peat Monster, sultanas in Caol Ila and heather honey in Ardmore.

This limited edition was bottled in September 2024 at 52%, with a total release of 9,792 bottles. Its colour is natural. The whisky undergoes light filtration through a 5-micron filter but is not chill-filtered.

Tasting Notes:

• Nose: Coastal smoke initially takes the lead on the nose. Behind it, honey, toasted marshmallows and pears with a buttery note unfold. Further aromas recall raisins and smoked lemon peel.
• Palate: On the palate, the whisky is oily and spicy. Pear, peach and melon define the fruit character before the citrus notes become more pronounced.
• Finish: The long finish combines chocolate with peat smoke. The lingering peat smoke has a drying effect.

Distillery/Bottler:

Founded in 2000, Compass Box develops its whisky compositions in the Blending Room in Richmond, near London. Rather than distilling the components itself, the company works with selected whiskies and its own stocks maturing in Scotland. Selection and blending serve not only to bring different flavours together, but also to reveal hidden qualities in individual whisky components.

James Saxon led the development of Secrets of Smoke. The composition builds on experiments with wine and sherry casks through which Compass Box brings the unexpected sweetness of peated malts more clearly to the fore.

Facts: