This Is a 10-Year-Old Whisky. And Compass Box Can Tell You Exactly What’s in It

A whisky called This Is a 10-Year-Old Whisky might sound like it’s stating the obvious. 

But Compass Box has chosen that name for a reason: every drop in the bottle is exactly ten years old.

The London-based Scotch whiskymaker has combined three single malts for this limited-edition release. 

Clynelish makes up 66.5% of the blend, while peated Ardnamurchan contributes 20.2% and unpeated Ardnamurchan the remaining 13.3%. All three spent their ten years in first-fill bourbon barrels.

Why make such a point of their ages? An age statement on a blended Scotch tells you the age of its youngest whisky. Other components could be older, but the number on the label won’t tell you that. Compass Box’s answer is to share the recipe, including the distilleries, proportions and ages, so drinkers know what they’re buying.

That openness is part of the company’s identity. This release marks ten years since Compass Box began publicly calling for greater transparency about Scotch whisky recipes. It’s a pleasingly straightforward way to celebrate: put the full details out there and let the whisky speak for itself.

As for what might be in your glass, Compass Box describes a light, glossy dram with Clynelish’s waxy character and a touch of smoke from Ardnamurchan. Its tasting notes suggest Pink Lady apples, rhubarb crumble and custard on the nose, followed by lemon-iced biscuits, white chocolate, soft apricots and nutmeg. The finish brings buttery pastry, candied lemon and a hint of charred oak. 

That sounds rather tempting on an autumn evening, although tasting notes are always an invitation to discover what you notice.

The whisky is bottled at 50.5% ABV, without added caramel colouring or chill-filtration. There are just 3,610 individually numbered 70cl bottles worldwide. At the time of writing, The Whisky Exchange lists it at £63.95.

For anyone who enjoys exploring what a blender can do with carefully chosen malts, this offers plenty to talk about alongside the dram. And if a friend asks how old the whiskies inside it really are, you can give them an unusually precise answer.

More: www.compassboxwhisky.com | @compassboxwhiskyco (Instagram).