There aren’t too many companies like Compass Box. I think of them as being on the cutting edge of whisky. Always experimenting and poking at the rules. Trying to push it into the future. As a result they’ve received some harsh rebukes and sanctions but I guess that’s what happens when you push the limits. As for this particular expression from Compass Box, it’s a special batch of a special idea. The original Hedonism was one of the first blended grain whiskies to push into the luxury market. I guess the name kind of gives that away a bit. Some people are dead against grain or simply unimpressed, but I think there are some notable exceptions. Hedonism is one of them. The Quindecimus is their special batch produced for their 15th Anniversary. For their 10th they had the Maximus. You can kind of see a trend in the naming. While the makeup of blends is typically guarded more closely than nuclear launch codes, Compass Box have revealed all in typical compass Box fashion.

Here it goes (from the Whisky Exchange Blog):

• 17.6% North British 20yo from first-fill American standard barrels
• 36.6% Port Dundas 25yo from rejuvenated hogsheads
• 8.4% Dumbarton 28yo from American standard barrels
• 19.4% Port Dundas 20yo from first-fill American standard barrels
• 18% 32yo Loch Lomond mystery blended grain from American standard barrels

Oooh ahhhhh.. Whisky recipes! Anyway before I get on with the tasting notes, I’d like to give credit to the main dudes at Compass Box, John Glaser and Gregg Glass. John Glaser obviously being the founder and captain of the ship and Gregg Glass doing some real legwork. We met Gregg Glass at a special Water of Life Society tasting in 2014. He’s a cool guy with a passion for his craft. Props to that.

Bottler: Compass Box

Type: Blended Grain

ABV: 46%

Price: ~£130 (£128.00 at Master of Malt)

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