Compass Box Vellichor Blended Scotch Whisky -

Volume: 0.7 litres | Alcohol content: 44.6% | Chill filtration: No | Colouring: No

Special Features:

Vellichor captures the scents of old second-hand bookshops in a Blended Scotch Whisky. Coined by John Koenig, the term describes the distinctive feeling of visiting such a shop. For this edition, whiskymaker James Saxon sought mature whiskies with aromas recalling leather, polished wood and old book pages.

Highland Park from eight recharred hogsheads forms the largest share at 38.9%. It is joined by 29.3% blended malt from two refill sherry butts and 15.6% Blended Scotch from one refill sherry butt. Macallan from two first-fill bourbon barrels contributes 12.1%, while Caol Ila from one refill hogshead completes the blend at 4.1%. The refill casks had previously been used to mature whisky.

The two parcels of previously blended whiskies spent many further years maturing in sherry butts before being selected for Vellichor. The blended malt combines malts from Speyside and the Highlands. The Blended Scotch brings together malt whiskies from Orkney and Speyside with grain whisky from the Lowlands; its additional maturation in the refill butt lasted an estimated 16 years. The 23-year-old Macallan is the youngest component in the entire blend. On the palate, heather smoke, vanilla and caramel give way to waxy notes and sweet dried fruit with a tannic edge.

In January 2022, 3,246 bottles were filled at 44.6% alcohol. Vellichor retains its natural colour and is not chill-filtered. The bottle contains 0.7 litres and comes in book-shaped gift packaging.

Tasting Notes:

• Nose: Delicate notes of leather and furniture polish emerge on the nose. A dry, dusty impression recalls book pages stored for many years.
• Palate: Rich malt notes mingle with tropical fruit and sherry flavours on the palate. A delicate yet persistent peatiness accompanies the flavours.
• Finish: The long, balanced finish leaves lingering notes of dried pears and apples with a subtle touch of mint.

Distillery/Bottler:

Founded in 2000, Compass Box develops its whiskies in its Blending Room in Richmond, London. The company does not distil its own whisky, instead working with mature whiskies and its own stocks maturing in Scotland. Its focus is on combining different whisky characters into a deliberately crafted blend.

James Saxon was responsible for composing Vellichor. Alongside individual malts, he selected older, previously blended stocks whose further cask maturation had developed a character of their own. Highland Park supplied the dry leather aromas and pronounced fruitiness central to the concept. Macallan contributed a weighty texture, while the last available cask stock from a parcel of Caol Ila used in earlier Compass Box editions added mature smoke and juiciness.

Facts: