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Compass Box Orangerie

WTF

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@MaltActivistReview by @MaltActivist

29th Feb 2016

0

Compass Box Orangerie
  • Nose
    15
  • Taste
    15
  • Finish
    12
  • Balance
    14
  • Overall
    56

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Distribution of ratings for this: brand user

OK John Glaser. I know you do some amazing things at Compass Box but seriously WTF is this crap?

First he's taken malt whisky from Glen Moray and blended it with equal parts grain whisky from Cameronbridge and vatted them in a first-fill American Oak hogshead.

He's then infused the spirit with hand-zested Navalino orange peel, Indonesian Cassia Bark and Sri Lankan cloves. The result is the most imbalanced, weirdly tasting whisky I've ever had. And actually it doesn't qualify as whisky any more thanks to the stuff he's dropped in it. I believe it's actually liqueur now.

I'm sure he had his reasons for doing what he did and I'm sure there are people who really really like this monstrosity. But if I know Glaser's taste then I'm pretty sure he didn't like this as well. Don't believe me? Ask him yourself.

My sample is from a brand new bottle and served at 40% ABV

Orange. Orange. A bit of orange. Some orange. A touch of orange. Lots of orange. With a side of orange. And, oh yeah, orange. Did I mention orange? No? A dash of orange. 15/25

That same orange that I got on the nose. Some orange. A touch of orange. A wisp of orange. Lots of orange. Chew on it and you get orange. Becomes more orangey mid-palate. 15/25

That orange again. With a touch of orange. 12/25

Orange.

PS For a look at how to make orange zest work with your whisky check out the Amrut Narangi

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4 comments

@paddockjudge
paddockjudge commented

Orange is the new klaek! @MaltActivist, thanks for a concise and succinct review. Perhaps when this opens up you'll be able to detect Indonesian Cassia Bark and Sri Lankan cloves.

8 years ago 0

@MaltActivist
MaltActivist commented

@paddockjudge I don't think I'm going to wait for it to open up...

8 years ago 0

@Nozinan
Nozinan commented

Hang on to it... you might find a use for it in the future.

8 years ago 0

@Frost
Frost commented

@paddockjudge nailed! LOL

@MaltActivist I was curious about this expression, not anymore.

8 years ago 0