Opposites attract: Bimber and Compass Box unveil ‘Duality’ blended malt whiskies – Duality Whisky News
Opposites attract: Bimber and Compass Box unveil
‘Duality’ blended malt whiskies
Bimber Distillery together with Compass Box have today revealed ‘Duality’ – a duet of blended malt whiskies created collaboratively by the two London-based Whiskymakers. Featuring two distinct, yet connected whiskies which will be released at the same time – the Duality expressions bring the tradition of generously trading casks to their homes in West London and have been crafted as an exploration of the symmetry and contrasts of sherry-matured whiskies and heavily peated malts. Each is composed of components sourced from both England and Scotland and strives to juxtapose youth and maturity with texture and intensity to create new united harmonies. Both Duality expressions will be available from Tuesday 4th July directly from the respective producer’s websites.
Designed by Bimber’s Matt McKay and Compass Box’s James Saxon, the two Duality releases were created highly collaboratively with both Whiskymakers working in tandem. The London-based partners explored a wide-range of component whiskies from both Bimber’s growing warehouse and Compass Box’s extensive Scotch archive – each selecting a distinctive sherried and peated element for their individual Duality blended malts. The final whiskies not only offer balance and symmetries within their own bottles – but they also stand as a different duo created from an initial shared vision.
The Bimber Duality release takes textural, vibrantly fruity Bimber drawn from a peated ex-bourbon cask and combines it with a parcel of venerable 1st fill sherried malt from Glendullan Distillery. The release consists of 340 bottles presented at 54% ABV and with an RRP of £120.
The Compass Box Duality takes a core of intensely smoky whisky from Ardbeg Distillery and combines it with rich and textural Pedro Ximénez-matured Bimber whisky. The release consists of 1,050 bottles presented at 52% ABV and with an RRP of £180.
Speaking of the launch of the two Duality releases, Matt McKay from Bimber said: “It has been a pleasure to create Duality with a team as passionate and inventive as Compass Box. The end results speak not only to the mindsets and approaches of both a distillery and a Whiskymaker in conjunction, but also to the incredible versatility of the component malts which have been selected for blending. The Bimber Duality bottling is the first time our London whisky has been utilised in conjunction with malts from different distilleries – we’re incredibly proud of the result and are delighted to have collaborated with Compass Box to produce this duo of Dualities.”
James Saxon from Compass Box added: “I’ve been a huge admirer of Bimber since visiting in September 2020 – my first distillery tour after lockdown! I have wanted to find a way to bring the attention to detail and distinctiveness of Bimber’s spirits into a Compass Box project since that day. Working with the Bimber team, we created Duality and a pair of releases to celebrate our West London Whiskymaking connection. Duality is unlike anything we have made at Compass Box before – the weight and texture the Bimber brings to our heavily-peated Islay malt is truly compelling.”
Duality Blended Malt Whiskies
| Compass Box
A parcel of “teaspooned” malt whisky from the Ardbeg Distillery, combined with Pedro Ximénez-matured whisky from Bimber Distillery. Nose: First thought is ‘density’. The tarry notes of the Ardbeg are bolstered by the oak and black raisin character of the Bimber, pushing every aroma to its weightiest form. The smoke is given an industrial inflection. Taste: Cherries, tropical fruits and a growing peatiness. There is a fresh saltiness and honeyed toffee quality.
Finish: Long, ashy and oily. The Bimber lengthens proceedings and adds a rich blackcurrant accent.
1,050 bottles 70cl 52% ABV RRP £180 |
Bimber Distillery
A parcel of heavily peated Bimber whisky combined with 1st fill sherry-matured whisky from the Glendullan Distillery. Nose: An embodiment of peat meeting sweet. Plump red and black berries, burnt toffee and shaved chocolate – all enveloped in a warming blanket of smoked pine needs, ash and undertones of salinity. Taste: Smouldering logs and damp leaf fires are tempered by vibrant tropical fruits, succulent wild berries and sumptuous vanilla toffee. Finish: Lingering log fires conjoined with sustained, rich berry sweetness.
340 bottles 70cl 54% ABV RRP £120 |
Distribution
Compass Box Duality will be available from Tuesday 4th July 2023 via www.compassboxwhisky.com
Bimber Duality will be available from Tuesday 4th July 2023 via www.bimberdistillery.co.uk
About Bimber
Bimber Distillery produces world-class single malt whisky, handcrafted with passion in West London. As a leading distiller of English whisky, we combine generations of rich distilling heritage, with the finest quality ingredients to create the ultimate craft whisky experience.
About Compass Box
Compass Box are Scotch Whiskymakers. The word ‘Whiskymaker’ is their word – it does not appear in a dictionary. For over 20 years they have been relentlessly focused on reinventing Scotch whisky, with every new blend designed to help make the world of whisky a more interesting place. They have not done it on their own and have collaborated with some of the world’s most visionary bartenders and designers to really push the boundaries of what is possible. They are always experimenting, always looking for sparks of creativity that will deliver something totally compelling, yet completely surprising. This vision motivates them as Whiskymakers.
