Akio Morita, founder of Sony, used to say that people can’t tell you what they want, because they don’t know what’s possible.

What I’m trying to do with Compass Box is show the world what’s possible with Scotch whisky.

From the original Compass Box business plan, 2000

Dear friends of Compass Box,

After an incredible 23-year journey, it’s time for me to bid farewell to Compass Box. This decision wasn’t easy, but I believe it’s the right moment to hand over the reins to the next generation of Compass Box whiskymakers.

In 2000, I set sail on a mission to share the joys of whisky with more people in the world. From the day I walked into Royal Mile Whiskies in Edinburgh to introduce the very first batch of Hedonism, it’s been a remarkable voyage.

Meeting so many of you has been a privilege and a joy. From Singapore to San Francisco to St Andrews, I’ve shared drams with whisky lovers around the world, forging lasting connections along the way.

In 2011, at the University of St Andrews, I met James Saxon at a Whisky Society tasting. Little did I know then that eight years later I would be hiring James to join us at Compass Box. His journey has been remarkable, starting from his early days commuting to our London Blending Room from Glasgow, followed by our first collaboration on Rogues’ Banquet, to his work today, delivering exceptional whiskies such as the most recent Flaming Heart and the Extinct Blends Quartet. His creativity and sensibility for whiskymaking in the Compass Box way have become bedrock for us.

It’s no surprise then, that I now pass the whiskymaking torch to James, with the confident belief that he will continue to show the world what’s possible with Scotch whisky.

As I embark on a new chapter, my love for Compass Box remains unwavering. I’ll continue to champion the brand as a devoted advocate, confident in its continued success and evolution.

Here’s to an extraordinary 23 years, challenging the status quo to share the joys of Scotch whisky with the world.

Above all, share and enjoy!

John

Compass Box Whisky, 3 Water Lane, Richmond London, TW9 1TJ

Vic Cameron, one of our whisky lecturers says: “Marrying is a process that we can use before bottling the final expression of whisky. It’s really when you take different whiskies and mix them together. It’s like blending. So, you take casks and mix them together and then either put them back into other casks or put them into big vats for a period when we say they marry.”

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The perfect sweet whisky pairings

Exploring whisky pairings extends beyond traditional boundaries, delving into a realm of where flavours, both bold and subtle, meet. This Mother’s Day, our focus is on pairing the complex and nuanced profiles of whisky with a variety of sweets. This isn’t about adhering to stereotypes or assuming preferences; it’s about celebrating the diversity of whisky and matching with sweet delights. Simply creating signature moments with loved ones.

SIGNATURE SINGLE MALT WHISKY

This whisky’s maturation in highly active STR (Shaved, Toasted, and Re-charred) ex-red wine barriques imparts rich and bold fruity notes. These flavours align seamlessly with the vanilla and lemon brioche.

Signature boasts vanilla undertones, which resonate with the sweet, buttery essence of brioche. The vanilla’s warmth complements the pastry’s delicate crumb, enhancing both elements.

The lemon brioche introduces a zesty twist. Its bright lemony notes dance alongside the whisky’s complexity, adding a refreshing layer. Imagine sipping the whisky and taking a bite of the brioche—the interplay of flavours dance beautifully on your palate.

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FOUNDER’S CHOICE SINGLE MALT WHISKY

Founder’s Choice Single Malt Whisky boasts rich and intense flavours. Its maturation in highly active STR casks, designed by the late Dr. Jim Swan, imparts delightful notes of toffee, chocolate, and red fruits.

The whisky’s toffee and chocolate notes resonate with the croissant’s buttery layers and cocoa richness. The croissant’s flaky, melt-in-your-mouth texture complements the creamy, rich flavours.

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PEATED CASK SINGLE MALT WHISKY

The robust, smoky character of peated whiskies, reminiscent of bonfires and coastal breezes, finds a harmonious companion in the deep, bittersweet notes of dark chocolate.

The notes of Cotswolds Peated Cask Single Malt Whisky stand up boldly to the richness of dark chocolate. As you sip the whisky, its earthy, smoky undertones intertwine with the cocoa’s complexity, creating an intense flavour combination.

The whisky’s warmth and depth contrast beautifully with the chocolate’s bitterness. The slight sweetness of the Dark Chocolate Torte tempers the whisky’s peatiness, resulting in a balanced experience on the palate.

So, as you raise your glass and indulge in that velvety slice of Dark Chocolate Torte, let the Cotswolds Peated Whisky envelop your senses. A double delight.

SHOP FOR PEATED CASK

Whisky
Whirlwind.

With our Year Two cask offer going live just after our last dispatch dropped into your inboxes, it was another exciting evening here at North Uist Distillery as whisky enthusiasts and distillery devotees poured into the online shop to get their hands on a piece of NUD history. We were absolutely delighted by the overwhelming response to the release and thrilled to welcome a new batch of cask owners to the Nunton Whisky journey!

Ch-ch-ch
Changes.

The extra day in this month is being put to good use at Nunton, where renovations are underway and we barrel ahead towards a much anticipated spring reopening. Our beautiful distillery home is a listed building with a past as important to the island as it is to us, so it’s with great care and much respect for the history embedded in the very stones of the building that we are making the most minimal changes we can to accommodate brand new whisky making equipment and herald in a new chapter in Nunton’s colourful story.

www.northuistdistillery.com

BRAND NEW OFFERS:DISTILLERY RESERVE COLLECTION

This week only we’re offering discounts on several Speyside single malts from The Distillery Reserve Collection, including £15 off a nutty Tormore and £10 off a rich and warming Glenlivet matured in a first-fill sherry butt.

This range of distillery reserves from Chivas Brothers are all single cask expressions, non chill-filtered, and bottled at natural cask strength. Usually only available to buy at the distilleries themselves, these limited Scottish single malts are rarely seen outside the realms of blends and independent bottlings.

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The Fosse Gallery have extended an invitation to Cotswolds Distillery friends to view Annabel Playfair Travels from Italy to Home. Annabel Playfair was the artist highlighted on the Flaxen Vale Single Malt Whisky which is part of the Harvest Series.

On: Sunday 3rd March 2024

11.00am – 4.00pm 

At: Fosse Gallery Fine Art,

The Manor House, The Square, Stow on the Wold, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire GL54 1AF 

01451 831319

mail@fossegallery.com

You may view the exhibition in full at www.fossegallery.com 

The Exhibition continues until: Saturday 23rd March 2024

FIND OUT MORE

Harvest Series Flaxen Vale Single Malt Whisky

The limited-release single malt is the embodiment of the Cotswolds landscape, expertly crafted with a blend of select American Oak PX and Spanish Oak Oloroso and Peated casks.

Tasting Notes 

Nose: Sweet dates, sweet brioche pastry, hazelnut

Palette: Dried raisins, toffee, touch of peat and toasted hazelnuts

Finish: Balanced, dry fruit, sweet patisserie pastry with a gentle peaty finish

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THOMPSON BROS.

Exciting new drams just in from Thompson Bros. An organic Highland blend from two highly regarded Scottish distilleries along with excellent new whisky from Linkwood, Craigellachie and Dailuaine!

Limited stock available on all of these new drams. As ever, if you have any questions or queries, please just get in touch.

Free UK Shipping on orders over £99

Fast EU & Worldwide, Tax Free Shopping

Slàinte

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Behind the scenes at Distillers’ One of One — the £2.25 million charity Scotch whisky auction

Every two years, the Scotch whisky industry’s preeminent distillers submit exceptional, one-off whiskies to go under the hammer at the Distillers’ One of One auction. Created by The Distillers’ Charity, the philanthropic arm of the Worshipful Company of Distillers, one of the UK’s oldest livery companies, the auction’s hammer price is donated to charity and principally benefits the Distillers’ Youth Action Fund. So far, two auctions have raised an incredible £4.2 million for charity.

The Whisky Magazine team headed to the recent auction at Hopetoun House near Edinburgh to learn more about the whiskies on sale at the most recent auction and the Youth Action Fund’s tangible impact on the lives of vulnerable 16-25-year-olds in Scotland.

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