Compass Box Rivals Blended Malt Scotch Whisky

This is a bespoke NAS (non-age statement) bottling released by Compass Box in 2017. Made in collaboration with 2 very well known, but competing distillers/retailers (one in New York and the other in Boston). The name comes from the natural rivalry between Boston and New York, and the whisky comes from a blend of Macallan, Teaninich, the now-closed Imperial distillery, and some of the French Oak-finished Highland malt blend that was featured in Compass Box’s Flaming Heart. It's an expression to show what can happen when ‘Rivals’ work together. The blend breaks down as such: 61.8% whisky from the Macallan distillery and 27.8% whisky from Imperial (a closed distillery) both of which are matured in first-fill ex-bourbon casks. Additionally, 8.5 % of the whisky is a Highland malt whisky aged in French oak and 1.9% whisky from the Teaninich distillery aged in sherry casks. This is a limited edition with only 690 bottles produced.

It is difficult to describe this whisky concisely. This a bit reductive at first but once opened the aroma kicks off with lots of fruit and honeysuckle ready to be picked. Take a few more whiffs and there’s subtle smoke, vanilla chews, and toffee. The palate is a cross of delicacy and hedonism. Initially, it's dainty fruit and light honey but at the mid-palate, the fruit becomes far richer - think of a well-aged white wine. The finish is lingering with subtle liquid smoke and thinly sliced whitefish. Pull the cork and get lost in this!