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Compass Box Orchard House Batch 2

Nozinan Mini and Sample Series - 83

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@NozinanReview by @Nozinan

8th Mar 2023

0

Compass Box Orchard House Batch 2
  • Nose
    ~
  • Taste
    ~
  • Finish
    ~
  • Balance
    ~
  • Overall
    89

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Distribution of ratings for this: brand user

I am blessed not only with generous friends, but with friends who like to buy, try and share new whiskies. I tasted this on Dec. 10, 2022, at an epic tasting which included @Fiddich1980 who opened it and was kind enough to let me take a small sample for future review.

I know that there is information available about what spirits are contained in this blend, but I don’t remember what the composition is. It’s a blended malt offered up at a respectable 46%.

This expression is reviewed in a Brilliant Highland Whisky Glass in my usual manner, allowing it to settle after which I take my nosing and tasting notes, followed by the addition of a few drops of water, waiting, then nosing and tasting.


Nose: 22.5/25

Warm and sweet, fruity with warm baking spices. Green apple, maybe cherry. Canned peaches (packed in light syrup). Very pleasant nose. With water there is a caramel note that comes out.

Taste: 22/25

Sweet, with a hint of spice on the arrival. Very fruity. A touch of pepper on the development. Slight graininess to the mouthfeel. Water adds to the graininess of the mouthfeel.

Finish: 21/25

Slightly astringent, bitter, pepper, fairly long.

Balance: 23.5/25

The nose and the palate complement each other. It’s sweet but not too sweet.

Score: 89/100


This is a remarkably good whisky. Flawless in presentation, light and fruity. If it were currently available I would be sorely tempted to buy one.

Thanks again to @fiddich1980 for the opportunity to try it.

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2 comments

@Victor
Victor commented

@Nozinan thank you for your lovely review,.

That guy Glaser knows what he is doing. This sounds like a typical John Glaser type of whisky--subtle, simple and elegant, with basic but beautiful contrasts, much like Mediterranean cooking. In a cuisine analogy. I think of a seafood dish from Spain or a salad from Lebanon.

Glaser likes apple-y flavours a lot. As fruit flavours in whisky go I enjoy and appreciate the apple flavours, but they are not near the top of my own list of preference for flavours from fruit. Now when you talk cherry you have my undivided attention. Love, love, love cherry flavours in whiski. And orange, and ALL of the dark fruits and berries, such as plums, black cherries, raspberries, blackberries, etc.

Glaser prides himself as a blender. Though he puts together excellent blended malts, like this one, he takes special interest in elevating blended Scotch. He sees blended Scotch as something akin to his principal whisky calling. Long may John Glaser blend!

Reading your review makes me want to take out my bottle of Spice Tree, or Oak Cross, or Asyla, or Great King Street Artist's blend.

about one year ago 4Who liked this?

@JasonHambrey
JasonHambrey commented

I quite liked this expression, for the balance, combination of flavours, and price (i got it for $60 in Alberta last year). Very fruity malt isn’t my favourite style of malt, but it hits the spot from time to time - and does well with guests. I thought the slight bit of peat was also just about perfect here.

Thanks for the review!

about one year ago 2Who liked this?