Compass Box turn 10 - RMW Tasting

[Arthur Motley]

Just announced this on e-mail newsletter so you may know about this already, but bit of a historic one so worth a plug here I thought. BTW, we put price at £35 on NL, its actually £30.

"Where and When?
Where: The Scottish Cafe underneath The National Gallery on Princes St.
When: Friday 22nd October 2010
Timings: 7.30 to 930pm.
What: 8 boutique whiskies presented by the man who made them.

Background To A Great Night
On 22nd October 2000 John Glaser walked into Royal Mile Whiskies and sold his first ever bottles of Compass Box boutique whisky. It was the glorious Hedonism, delivered from the boot of his car, and signalled his intention to provide a fresh, innovative approach to a largely traditional industry. Exactly ten years later (to the day!) the man himself is treating us to an exclusive Edinburgh tasting to celebrate a decade of good service to the whisky buying public.

John is probably too modest to say it, but we think he singlehandedly re-invented and re-invigorated the following categories, which were unloved and ignored before he waved his magic wand:
- Fine Grain Whiskies. No longer just padding for blends, now a style in its own right thanks to Hedonism.
- Small Batch Blended Peaty Malts. Smokehead, Big Smoke, Big Peat and the rest have a lot to thank Peat Monster for.
- Small Batch Blended Malt Brands. Plenty of people now understand vatted malts (well they did before we had to start calling them blended malts).
In addition to this he has pushed the boundries of wood technology, occasionally falling foul of the (in this case a bit silly) lawmakers.

Speaking of which, there are wholly-entirely-absolutely-ok-then-not-really unsubstantiated rumours that the 'illegal' Spice Tree may come out of hiding for a taste during this very special night. The line up is still under discussion as John kindly has a look at what is in his archive cupboard, but there is speak of the very first Hedonism being dusted off among other treasures."

[Willie JJ]

Just announced this on e-mail newsletter so you may know about this already,

Is that in the deals email Arthur, because I can't see it? (It is possible that I'm being stupid of course.)

[Arthur Motley]

HTML newsletter might be displaying strangely on your e-mail (bane of different versions of outlook etc). It was near the top on the right with a nice picture of John atop a cask.
Anwyay, link from diary page here too:
http://www.royalmilewhiskies.com/viewin ... e_id=diary

[Willie JJ]

Ah I can see it if I just use the basic HTML version of Gmail. Thanks Arthur. Now I just need to figure out if I will be in town that day.

[Mike R]

I'll be there... Anyone else from the forum going?

[Jolly Toper]

I've been out of the house a lot recently, this might be one tasting too many for true matrimonial bliss. My mistress is a demanding lady. Otherwise damn right I'll be there.

[Willie JJ]

The chances are improving for me

[Mark C]

Oh, so tempting...hmm...

[Arthur Motley]

Perhaps this might make up your mind Mark, Willie and The Lurkers*:
1. Hedonism - 1st batch
2. Original Monster
3. Magic Cask
4. ‘Illegal’ Spice Tree - 1st batch
5. Asyla 2003
6. Eleuthera 2003
7. Hedonism Maximus
8. Double Single
9. Flaming Heart

A silly line-up. There is talk of canapes too (I know that will be the clincher for you Willie...)

*good name for a band.

[Willie JJ]

Ha ha there's some serious temptation here. I suppose I could get the train on Saturday instead of Friday ...

[Iain M]

I'll be at this anyone else coming along?

Nice lineup

[Mark C]

I'm going, as is Toshie.

[toshie]

damn tootin'!

[Mark C]

Lock up yer artisan whisky, the Weegies are a comin'!

[The Craw]

the Weegies are a comin'!

Not sure if your type will be allowed into the National Gallery thro here in Embra pal - tracky bottoms & tweed bunnets may be the latest Sauchiehall Street attire over there but not here, by the way

I'm just going to sit across the road upstairs in Jenners tea-room dressed like the Morningside Gentry and spy on you lot of buckfast swillers affronting yersels!

[Willie JJ]

I'm finally commited. Also, I'll be going to the tasting.

[Willie JJ]

This was an excellent tasting really well hosted by John Glaser. Thanks to John & the RMW crew for making it happen.

In the course of the tasting we had:

Asyla
Hedonism
Eleuthra
Monster
Spice Tree
Magic Cask
Double Single
Lady Luck
Flaming Heart
Hedonism Maximus

It was an astonishing display of quality. The new Double Single was the one that had me gasping for a bottle, but I'd have happily spent money on any of them.

[Arthur Motley]

I genuinely thought that was one of the best tastings I've been to. Stunning quality of drammage (I'd be SO proud if I could say I'd made those) but the chat was so interesting.
The story was just so much more interesting than 'our single malt tastes like this because...then we fill into these casks so it tastes...then we bottle it'. I learnt so much.

All the drams were good or great. No duds.
Double Single was a real star, and I love the anti-commercialism of it...was it 80% old Glen Elgin with 20% grain? Makes no sense from a money point of view but that combination of just a little good grain enveloping a great fruity malt really worked for me.

For the sake of pernickety pedantry, I will correct Willie slightly with specific batches (although they were tasted in order as Willie said):
1. Hedonism - 1st batch
2. Original Monster (USA bottling)
3. Magic Cask (Canada exclusive and only CB bottling from a wine cask)
4. 'Illegal' Spice Tree - 1st batch
5. Asyla 2003
6. Eleuthera 2003
7. Hedonism Maximus
8. Double Single 10th Anniversary
9. Flaming Heart 10th Anniversary
Lady luck squeezed in there.

Thanks everyone who came, that was a special one.

[Willie JJ]

Double Single was a real star, and I love the anti-commercialism of it...was it 80% old Glen Elgin with 20% grain?

I think he said 18yo Glen Elgin. When are you getting it in Arthur?

[Arthur Motley]

Just spoken to CB.
76% 18 year old Elgin and 24% 21 year old Port Dundas.
It is in Ed shop and online:
http://www.royalmilewhiskies.com/produc ... 0000001064
We would get the full product details update and image up there by close of today (if you like gay frogs, this is the bottle for you).

[toshie]

[quote="Arthur Motley"]Just spoken to CB.
76% 18 year old Elgin and 24% 21 year old Port Dundas./quote]


I have it in my notes as 19 year old Port Dundas at 20% and 18 yo Glen Elgin at 80%. Could be mistaken though - it *was* the seventh dram of the night!
A brilliant night Arthur. Thanks for letting the Weegies in. (And out again!)

[Willie JJ]

I have it in my notes as 19 year old Port Dundas at 20% and 18 yo Glen Elgin at 80%. Could be mistaken though - it *was* the seventh dram of the night!

I think that's what John said, but his recall may have been fuzzy at that point.

[Arthur Motley]

Full details of ages, malts and ratios online now. Sorry to brief, manic monday!

[mik_us]

Thank you for nice evening.

Miroslaw