Glasgow-based Brave New Spirits has released another batch – their third – of limited release single cask whiskies in their old-time cinema-inspired Cask Noir series which now totals 12 whiskies. The newest batch of Brave New Spirits Cask Noir Series releases includes a 30-year-old single grain [Adventures of Burke & Hare] distilled at North British […]
Glasgow-based Brave New Spirits has released another batch – their third – of limited release single cask whiskies in their old-time cinema-inspired Cask Noir series which now totals 12 whiskies.
The newest batch of Brave New Spirits Cask Noir Series releases includes a 30-year-old single grain [Adventures of Burke & Hare] distilled at North British Distillery in Edinburgh and matured in a bourbon barrel, an 11-year-old whisky [Antlers On The Sound] distilled at Jura Distillery, matured in a first-fill Rivesaltes wine cask and which is available only in Germany and the appropriately named Cheeky Little Rascals for younger whiskies.
All Brave New Spirits Cask Noir Series releases are being made available for between $85-$125 per bottle.
When Rosebank Distillery’s stills went silent in 1993, many whisky lovers assumed the Falkirk distillery was gone forever – especially after thieves stole the copper… Read More
When Rosebank Distillery’s stills went silent in 1993, many whisky lovers assumed the Falkirk distillery was gone forever – especially after thieves stole the copper stills for scrap a couple of years later. Now, after 5 and a half years of work, Rosebank has come back to life, and the team at Ian Macleod Distillers filled the first casks of Rosebank since 1993 this week. We’ll talk with Ian Macleod’s Gordon Dundas about the revival of Rosebank on this week’s WhiskyCast In-Depth.
In the news, the whisky world pays tribute to the Bon Accord’s Paul McDonagh after the legendary Glasgow whisky bar’s owner passed away this week. Speyburn Distillery in Scotland is opening its doors to visitors for the first time starting next week, and we’ll have the details. We’ll take a look at sweet mash and sour mash distilling on Behind the Label, and our tasting notes this week include whiskies from Amrut and Arran distilleries.
Independent Glasgow-based bottler Caskade has released Grace Notes – a limited edition whisky to celebrate 30 years of the local Celtic Connections music festival which is held every January in Glasgow. Grace Notes was extracted from a trio of single ex-bourbon American oak casks, distilled at Teaninich Distillery, [located in the Highlands of Scotland], matured […]
Independent Glasgow-based bottler Caskade has released Grace Notes – a limited edition whisky to celebrate 30 years of the local Celtic Connections music festival which is held every January in Glasgow.
Grace Notes was extracted from a trio of single ex-bourbon American oak casks, distilled at Teaninich Distillery, [located in the Highlands of Scotland], matured for 10 years, bottled at 48.6% alcohol by volume [97.2 proof] and is said to offer “graceful” notes of citrus, cocoa, pear and vanilla.
Only 752 individually-numbered bottles of Caskade Grace Notes are being made available – via the official Caskade site [caskadedrinks.com] and in person at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall during the Celtic Connections music festival.
Really loving this one, there is still hints of sherry influence but also plenty of beer notes too coming through. This has added some depth and variety to Glasgow’s fruity spirit nature. 88/100
Really loving this one, there is still hints of sherry influence but also plenty of beer notes too coming through. This has added some depth and variety to Glasgow's fruity spirit nature. 88/100
As described Fresh and Fruity, lovely distillate notes shine through with just a hint of perhaps too much virgin oak (pencil shavings) but otherwise a very enjoyable dram. 82/100
As described Fresh and Fruity, lovely distillate notes shine through with just a hint of perhaps too much virgin oak (pencil shavings) but otherwise a very enjoyable dram. 82/100
My favourite of the tasting, the perfect combination of sweet and peat. I’ve long had a fascination with Sauternes-cask finished whiskies and this one really hits the mark with youthful peaty exuberance and leathery, stone-fruit skin sweetness in perfe…
My favourite of the tasting, the perfect combination of sweet and peat. I've long had a fascination with Sauternes-cask finished whiskies and this one really hits the mark with youthful peaty exuberance and leathery, stone-fruit skin sweetness in perfect harmony. 92/100
There are some who rave about any whisky matured in Port casks as being excellent, however in my experience some have been either a hit or a miss. Don’t let the colour fool you as the palate doesn’t always back it up. Here however Glasgow have matured …
There are some who rave about any whisky matured in Port casks as being excellent, however in my experience some have been either a hit or a miss. Don't let the colour fool you as the palate doesn't always back it up. Here however Glasgow have matured this one to perfection. Lots of juicy red fruits, touch jammy and some chocolate. 89/100
Building on the light and floral Triple distilled base the Tokaji cask has added more stone fruit and rather a lot of tannin and oak wood spice. The addition of a little drop of water relaxed this one quite a lot and really adjusted the balance on the …
Building on the light and floral Triple distilled base the Tokaji cask has added more stone fruit and rather a lot of tannin and oak wood spice. The addition of a little drop of water relaxed this one quite a lot and really adjusted the balance on the palate and finish. 84/100
The SCWC has been on a roll with our single cask picks and the latest is this Compass Box Glasgow Blend Single Cask. If you’re an observant person you might be wondering how you get a single cask of a massive blend. Well, you don’t. You get a single marrying cask of a massive blend; […]
The SCWC has been on a roll with our single cask picks and the latest is this Compass Box Glasgow Blend Single Cask. If you’re an observant person you might be wondering how you get a single cask of a massive blend. Well, you don’t. You get a single marrying cask of a massive blend; a finishing cask if you will.
The concept is the exact same as when you see a store pick of High West American Prairie Bourbon and it’s been finished in an Armagnac cask or something. You’re buying that single finishing cask, but with Compass Box they call it a Marrying Cask and the cask we picked was a lowland grain whiskey cask (Cameronbridge).
We wanted to jump away from the typical sherry and wine finishes and get something different and interesting, and we succeeded. Though different doesn’t always mean tasty and sometimes the samples you get taste different when bottled. Sometimes better, sometimes worse and sometimes just… different. It’s just part of the game.
Now, let’s get to drinkin’ and see if this turned out better, worse, different or as expected.
Compass Box Glasgow Blend Single Cask – Details and Tasting Notes
“This lovely barrel of Glasgow Blend was selected by the Southern California Whisky Club. It consists of the classic Glasgow blend finished in an old single grain barrel, specifically one used to age the Cameronbridge grain.” – K&L
SCWC Compass Box Glasgow Blend Single Cask Tasting Notes
EYE
Nutty gold
NOSE
Smoky char, toasted marshmallows, caramel, cinnamon, hazelnuts, malt and a touch of menthol and coconut.
Lovely lively aroma with a hint of darkness to it.
PALATE
Smoky char, toasted marshmallows, caramel, roasted nuts, toasted coconut, dried orchard fruit, cocoa and some menthol.
That hint of darkness grows on the palate making it a more brooding whisky.
FINISH
Long -> Smoke, oak, butterscotch, toasted coconut and brown sugar fade out evenly
BALANCE, BODY and FEEL
Well balanced, medium-full body and a warm velvety feel.
SCWC Compass Box Glasgow Blend Single Cask – Overall Thoughts and Score
It’s a struggle to not open this every day after work. It’s warm, tasty and absurdly easy to sip on. It’s layered with great aromas and flavors and the light peat is just enough to keep the smoke fiend in me happy.
I’ve been a long-time fan of Compass Box, and the Glasgow Blend has been a go-to for me for a long time, but I have to say. The addition of the 1 yr 3 months and change in an ex-Cameronbridge cask has added more depth to the SCWC Compass Box Glasgow Blend Single Cask and it turned out even better than expected.
