Country/Region: Scotland/Various.
CATEGORY: Blended Malt.
BOTTLER: Compass Box (CB).
BOTTLED: 2018
NUMBER OF BOTTLES:
STRENGTH: 48.9% Vol.
This is the sixth edition of Flaming Heart, a whisky inspired by a rock song.
Once again, they combine the rich, bold spiciness of malt whisky aged in heavy-toasted French oak barrels with the evocative smoke of heavypeated Islay malt whisky. The components are from a range of ages that provides depth and complexity.
The combination yields a flavour profile like no other in Scotch whisky: big, bold, hauntingly smoky, but with an alluring ethereal sweetness that calls you back to the glass.
In this 2018 edition, they have reintroduced a subtle Sherry cask influence that adds an additional layer of complexity and richness. This is a touch Compass Box have used for Flaming Heart only once before, in the 2012 edition. While they nuance each edition of Flaming Heart, the signature style always remains the same.
TASTING NOTES: A medium smoky-peaty base is enriched by a sweet maltiness and notes of baking spices and dried fruit. Full on the palate and very long.
| Component | Wood Type | Percentage |
|
Malt Whisky from Caol Ila Distillery |
Refill Barrel | 39% |
|
Malt Whisky from Deanston Distillery |
Refill Hogsheads | 29% |
| Malt Whisky from Clynelish Distillery | Rechar Hogsheads | 11% |
| Highland Malt Blend* | Custom French Oak cask, Heavy toast | 8% |
| Highland Malt Blend** | Mixture of refill Sherry butts, Custom French Oak casks and First Fill American Oak Barrels | 7% |
| Malt Whisky from Clynelish Distillery | Refill Hogsheads | 6% |
* A Blended Malt Scotch Whisky composed of 60% aged malt whisky from the Clynelish distillery, 20% aged malt whisky from the Dailuaine distillery and 20% aged malt whisky from the Teaninich distillery. After vatting, they recask this ‘Highland Malt Blend’ and mature it for another four and a half years in their highly active hybrid casks.
** A proprietary blend of single malts sourced from the Glen Ord, Benrinnes and Allt a Bhainne distilleries.
