Review by: The Muskox

This whisky is a recreation of the Compass Box blend Eleuthera, which they had to discontinue in 2004 when the supply of suitable whisky for the blend ran out. They attempted to recreate it in 2014 with this bottling, adding in some Allt-A-Bhainne to bring back some of that magic. I tried Eleuthera a few days ago and loved it, so how does this recreation measure up?

This whisky is a vatting of:

• 70.8% Clynelish (recharred hogshead)
• 22% Caol Ila (refill hogshead)
• 7.5% Allt-A-Bhainne (first-fill hogshead)

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Distillery: Blend.

Bottler: Compass Box.

Region: Blend.

ABV: 46%.

Age: No age statement. Bottled in 2014.

Cask type: Various.

Price: N/A, sample.

Color: Light gold. Natural Color. Non-chill-filtered.

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Nose: There’s a distinct bright fruity note up top with Clynelish herbs/wax and Caol Ila smoke underneath. Saltine crackers, honey, herbs and wax. The fruit is very ripe, maybe some banana, yellow plum, peach, pear, and lemon. Quite perfumed, too. A little bit of cured-meat funk.

Some water brings out the Caol Ila: spice and smoke, with more of a coastal note.

Palate: Arrives with a floral waxiness, honey, and tropical fruit. The sweetness spreads out into spicy, grassy, meaty smoke. More of a dessert-y vanilla in the middle, with the smoke around the sides. Like Eleuthera, this one’s smokier on the palate than you’d expect from the nose. Some black pepper spice along with some of that paprika-y cured meat. Grass and mint intertwined with the smoke.

Water adds chocolate-covered macadamia nuts and even more black pepper spice.

Finish:  More of a toffee-and-chocolate thing going on now. Apple pie burnt slightly in the oven. Salted plantain chips and pineapple. Vanilla and a little bit of mint.

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Conclusion:  Real tasty stuff. It’s pretty damn close to Eleuthera, like 90% of the way there. This one does have more vanilla and tropical fruit going on, which I’m going to chalk up to the first-fill hogsheads of Allt-A-Bhainne. I do prefer the Eleuthera, though. The finish on this one isn’t as nice and the peat doesn’t have quite the same depth.

Final Score: 83.

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Scoring Legend:

• 95-100: As good as it gets. Jaw-dropping, eye-widening, unforgettable whisky.
• 90-94: Sublime, a personal favorite in its category.
• 85-89: Excellent, a standout dram.
• 80-84: Quite good. Quality stuff.
• 75-79: Decent whisky worth tasting.
• 70-74: Meh. It’s definitely drinkable, but it can do better.
• 60-69: Not so good. I might not turn down a glass if I needed a drink.
• 50-59: Save it for mixing.
• 0-49: Blech.