Compass Box Flaming Heart 5th Edition Limited Edition 48.9% NV

Brennerei	Caol Ila, Clynelish, Teaninich, Dailuaine
Abfüller	Compass Box
Serie	15th Anniversary Limited Edition
Abgefüllt für	15th Anniversary Limited Edition
Destillationsdatum	Not Specified
Abfülldatum	07.2015
Land	Schottland
Region	Schottland
Alter	X
Cask Type	X
Fassnummer	X
Alcohol percentage	48.9
Inhalt	0,70
Zustand	in Originalverpackung
Label	Perfekt
Vorrat	0
Inhalt	0,70
Zustand	in Originalverpackung
Label	Perfekt
Vorrat	0

Professionelle Bewertungen

Serge Valentin (91)

To be honest, I had already adored some previous versions, such as the ‘2nd release’ from 2007 (WF 90). Colour: dark straw.

Nose: impeccable start, on a rather more refined peat than elsewhere (I mean in youngish single malts) and touches of agave and cane juice on top of an elegant Laphroaigness. Beeswax and seawater, antiseptic and overripe apples, bandages and damp clay, Japanese green tea and linseed oil. Then fresh mint, lime, oysters and just touches of diesel oil. Lovely lovely lovely.

Mouth: the first thing I like here is the strength. Sounds odd, I know, but these 48.9% work extremely well, it’s nervous and big but approachable and, well, drinkable. Other than that, it’s a superb combination of pink grapefruits, shellfish, olive brine, marzipan, lemon, touches of fresh coriander, lemon balm, some kind of waxy citrons and plain green olives. Passion fruits, cough syrup, liquorice... It’s very smoky too.

Finish: great as well because it remains elegant, zesty, even kind of ethereal despite all the oomph. Leaves your mouth a fresh as a baby’s! Comments: no, really, this is truly excellent. The bottle’s lovely too, it’ll be hard to throw it away once it’s empty (which will happen fast). Potential lamp stands? Nah, too narrow… (Didn’t I just score a fairly young vatting above 90?)

Words of Whisky (90)

Whiskynotes:

First released in 2006, Flaming Heart combined whisky matured in new French oak with the smoky Islay character. It was a popular blended malt and there have been four bottlings so far. The latest fifth release is called ‘15th Anniversary Edition’ and celebrates the creation of Compass Box When it was launched, Compass Box provided the exact composition :

38,5% of Caol Ila 14yo from refill American oak hogsheads

27,1% of Caol Ila 30yo from refill American oak hogsheads

24,1% of Clynelish 20yo from rejuvenated American oak hogsheads

10,3% of married Clynelish / Teaninich / Dailuaine 7yo which was finished in new French oak hybrid barrels for at least two years.

Apparently the Scotch Whisky Association received a complaint about the disclosure of this Information. A maturation period or age may only be specified in the description, presentation or labelling of a spirit drink where it refers to the youngest alcoholic component. Although I get the reasoning behind this rule (i.e. to avoid producers claiming a blend is composed with Caol Ila 30yo when it contains only a couple of spoons), I see no harm in being completely open and disclosing the entire formula. In fact we should applaud such openness when most producers choose to go NAS and hide all details altogether! In the meantime a whole list of distilleries and bottlers signed an open letter to the SWA asking for a change in regulations. I really hope it will only be a matter of time before this stupid rule is revised. Until this happens Compass Box can’t mention the ages of the components in official Compass Box Flaming Heart 15th AnniversaryCompass Box Flaming Heart ‘15th Anniversary Edition’ (48,9%, Compass Box 2015, 12.060 btl.)

Nose: mostly the (older) Caol Ila profile. Very refined ashy notes, whiffs of antiseptics and vorn leather. Some sweeter apples and marzipan in the background. Cinnamon. Light maritime touches, which nicely marries with the waxy Clynelish notes. Maybe not as full-bodied as a single malt Caol Ila, but excellent nonetheless.

Mouth: less delicate now, sharper, with much more peaty notes, smoke and pepper. Still quite leathery. Apples and berries. Hazelnuts. Then back to sooty notes and eucalyptus before it fades on waxy and oily notes, with a very light herbal bitterness.

Finish: quite long, smoky and medicinal, with an underlying fresh citrus note and a nutty dryness.

As a blended malt, this is brilliant stuff, although I guess you can’t do much wrong when 65% is solid Caol Ila. Complex, mature and well composed – if anything it confirms that Compass Box is the king of premium blends.

BOW (91)