Compass Box The Double Single Whisky Review


A lot of blended whisky is sold around the world.  A lot.  The majority is composed of dozens of different component grain and malt whiskies.  It leaves the whiskies palatable.  Perhaps more importantly, the use of many whiskies allows for consistency from batch to batch.  If a particular whisky is in short supply, blenders will slightly change the blend ratios or even add other component whiskies to make their blended whisky.

Compass Box’s John Glaser thought it would be interesting to strip a blended whisky to its core. Enter The Double Single – a blended whisky composed on one grain whisky from Girvan and one malt whisky from Glen Elgin.  Glaser used 72% Glen Elgin from re-charred bourbon hogsheads and 28% Girvan from re-charred bourbon barrels.  The Double Single is a very small bottling of 5,838 bottles.  If this were a large scale release, I doubt this whisky would be a reality because of the availabilty of the two component whiskies used.

So… how is it?

Pretty good, actually.  The fruit-forward nose features crisp orchard fruit, with an emphasis on apples and pears.  Honey, vanilla, oat cereal and floral notes round off the nose.  The whisky is initially sweet on the palate, with hints of rich honeyed malt, spiced apples & pears, and ripe apricot.  Some baking spice on the midpalate mingles with a splash of grapefruit juice.  A hint of oak on the back of the palate rounds out this rich, fruity whisky.  The finish is rather clean, with honey, sweet malt and citrus.

I’ve quite enjoyed just about everything I’ve tasted from Compass Box.  No surprise here, but I like this one.  It’s concurrently crisp and rich, with enough complexity to keep me going back for more.  Here’s one bottle I’ll have to keep a lookout for.  Highly recommended.  8.5/10

Thanks to Compass Box for the sample.  As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

New Hennessy Master Blender Named

It’s not every day the reigns are passed along at Hennessy.  Last week, July 1st to be precise, Yann Fillioux stepped down as Hennessy Master Blender.  Fillioux worked for the company for more than a half century, and created the wonderful Hennessy Paradis Imperial in 2015. 

So who takes over?

Fillioux’s nephew – Renaud Fillioux de Gironde, of course.  The Hennessy family and the Fillioux family go back more than 200 years, with the latter involved with creating cognac for seven generations.

Renaude de Gironde would be the eighth-generation Fillioux serving as master blender.  It’s in his blood.  He was born in Cognac and was trained by Yann Fillioux.  Renaude has worked with Hennessy since 2002 in the Eaux-de-vie department.

I wish Renaude de Gironde good luck, and can’t wait to see what expressions he will come up with in the future.

Booker’s Batch 2017-02 “Blue Knights Batch” Bourbon Review

The second of 2017’s four batches of Booker’s bourbon has been released.  Last year saw owner Beam Suntory announce a price hike (now $70 – $75) and a reduction in the number of batches of the cask-strength bourbon released each year.  The new batch, “Blue Knights Batch,” is named after the Blue Knights, an organization of retired and active law enforcement officers who love motorcycles.  What does that have to do with Booker Noe?  Well, as you guessed – there’s always a story involving Booker.  Many years ago he was invited to take part in a Blue Knights rally near the distillery.  Ever the friendly soul, Booker ended up invited about 300 members to his house for a BBQ lunch the next day.  Booker’s son and current Jim Beam Master Distiller Fred Noe said, “You can imagine Mom’s face when he told her at breakfast the next day. But, that was Dad – larger-than-life and always making new friends.”  The entire local chapter of the organization showed up for lunch, and it became an annual tradition for years.  Booker was even named an honorary member.  

This batch of Booker’s comes in at 63.7%, or 127.4 proof.  The youngest whiskey in the batch is 6 years, 3 months, and 6 days old.  Barrels were pulled from four different warehouses.  Noe says a few barrels were more than nine years old.  Blue Knights Batch is as robust as you’d expect, with hints of charred sweet corn, vanilla bean, cinnamon-spiced caramel and oak on the nose.  The palate comes across as rich, but has moments of vibrancy.  Big notes of vanilla pudding, sweet buttered corn bread, slight nuttiness, and maple syrup give us the rich side, as a touch of citrus and wood spice add some sparkle.  The backend has some bitterness, courtesy of charred oak.  The long, warm finish is what fans of Booker’s have come to expect.  There are a few lingering notes of orange peel, vanilla and oak tannins.

Booker’s is typically a powerful barrel-strength bourbon, and this batch easily fufills its role.  Ever so full of character, Booker’s 2017-02 still tastes like “Booker’s,” but offers a slightly more straight-forward, leaner tone.  I didn’t pick up some of the herbalness past batches offered.  Rather, the classic bourbon notes of vanilla, caramel and oak shine.  It’s a nice batch, and it’s always refreshing to see slight variations on the Booker’s house style.  8/10

Thanks to Beam Suntory for the sample.  As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.