Compass Box Myths & Legends Revealed
Compass Box recently added a trio of unreleased whiskies titled Myths & Legends to the “Whiskies” page on their website. Their site offers no additional information, aside from stating these whiskies will be “Coming Soon”, but labels discovered in the TTB database have revealed more information.
The whiskymakers at Compass Box have created Myths & Legends to address three misconceptions commonly held by whisky drinkers: blending is not restricted to blended Scotch whisky, a whisky’s region determines its flavor profile, and malt whisky from renowned distilleries is too precious to blend with others.
Myths & Legends I is a single malt whisky from the Balblair distillery that has been matured in first fill bourbon barrels (57.9%) and recharred American oak barrels (42.1%).
Myths & Legends I highlights how blending furthers our understanding of distillery character. Two parcels of malt whisky from the same Northern Highland distillery tasted markedly different: the younger parcel was malty and citrusy, the older one much creamier with a ripe fruit character. Each parcel revealed only one facet of the distillery’s personality. By combining them, we have created a whisky full of fragrance with a more rounded complexity. The designation of “single malt” is almost incidental; to us, I is all about the blend.
Myths & Legends II is a single malt whisky from the Glen Elgin distillery that has been matured in refill sherry butts (3.0%), recharred American oak barrels (81.0%), refill bourbon hogsheads (8.0%), and recharred American oak hogsheads (8.0%).
Myths & Legends II blends together malt whiskies of different ages from a single Speyside distillery. In addition to the aromas of tropical fruits and butterscotch you will also discover subtle savoury notes and spiciness. This distinctive character has nothing to do with “Speyside”; process decisions made at the distillery, the effects of maturation, and our own choices regarding the final blend are the most significant factors. Clues as to a whisky’s flavour lie in the glass, not the distillery’s region.
Myths & Legends III is a blended malt comprised of whisky from an undisclosed Orkney distillery matured in recharred American oak hogsheads (9.5%), Caol Ila matured in refill sherry butts (6.5%), and Glen Elgin matured in recharred American oak barrels (67.8%), refill bourbon hogsheads (8.2%), and recharred American oak hogsheads (8.0%).
For Myths & Legends III we have taken some of the same parcels of malt whisky used in II and added peated malt whiskies from a pair of celebrated island distilleries. Thanks to them, II’s flavours of tropical fruits and butterscotch are now further enriched by a deep and enchantingly aromatic peat profile. Never blend the famous names? The breadth of complex flavours found in Myths & Legends III dismantles such superstitious thinking.
Compass Box Myths & Legends will arrive in Autumn 2019. All three whiskies have been bottled non-chill filtered and of natural color at 46% ABV. Expect an official announcement with pricing information prior to release.