COMPASS BOX 10th Anniversary Tasting 22nd October 2010  

An incredibly exciting event to celebrate exactly 10 honourable and innovative years since Compass Box was founded by gentleman John Glaser. The man himself will be there to lead punters through 8 drams (a rare mix of greatest hits and the new anniversary bottlings).

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. A few canapes too. 

Visit http://tinyurl.com/CompassBoxRMW for tickets