Oh great, another overpriced CB release that only, wait-what, the Compass Box Orchard House is an affordable new core release? Color me tickled. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a massive Compass Box fan, but as my good friend Bozzy pointed out, there has been an advancing trend of ultra-premium releases that few can get their hands on. This however is not that and that alone makes me happy.
So happy I almost don’t even care if it’s good… almost. I mean, if it’s not good I’m never buying another bottle and that would be sad. Right now my regular buys in the Compass Box line are the Spaniard, Peat Monster and Glasgow Blend which are all great, but it’s all a bunch of peat and sherry/wine casks. I’d love to add in an ex-Bourbon fruit bomb to the rotation. And maybe, just maybe, this will be the answer.
As always, there’s only one way to find out: get to drinkin’.
Compass Box Orchard House – Details and Tasting Notes
Whiskey Details
Non-Chill Filtered | Natural Color
Style: Blended Malt (Scotch)
Region: Scotland
Blender: Compass Box
Blend: Linkwood (39%), Clynelish (29%), Benrinnes (20%), Macallan (8%), Caol Ila (2%), Highland Malt Blend (2% – 60% Clynelish, 20% Dailuaine, 20% Teaninich)
Mash Bill: 100% Malted Barley
Cask: 1st Fill ex-Bourbon, Oloroso Seasoned Butt, Heavily Toasted Custom French Oak Barrel
Age: NAS (6+ Years)
ABV: 46%
Compass Box Orchard House Price: $50
Related Whiskey
SCWC Compass Box Glasgow Blend Single Cask
Compass Box The Peat Monster
Compass Box The Spaniard
Compass Box Delilah’s XXV
Compass Box No Name 2
Compass Box Orchard House Tasting Notes
EYE
Honey
NOSE
Fresh and dried apples, honey, marzipan, graham, subtle baking spice and hints of banana chips and sultanas.
As it opens there’s a wisp of a floral note, but on the whole it’s fruity and honey sweet.
PALATE
Fresh and dried apples, honey, malty sweetness, marzipan, baking spice and hints of banana chips, graham.
A near carbon copy of the aroma.
FINISH
Medium -> Apple-heavy orchard fruit, malt and a touch of oak fade out with some baking spice.
BALANCE, BODY and FEEL
Well balanced, medium-full body and a soft silken feel.
Compass Box Orchard House – Overall Thoughts and Score
This is good. It’s a good opposite to the Spaniard, but definitely on the same un-peated coin. On the whole, the Spaniard is a bit deeper and a bit richer, but this is far from a frown-worthy whisky. Orchard House is a super fruity blended malt that’s easy to drink and full of character and really, that’s all you need most nights.
It’s also soft and oily which makes for a pleasant drinking experience. If I had an “un-peated un-sherried” table Scotch this Compass Box Orchard House would probably be it. The Spaniard would hold the sherried/wine finished role and the peated honor would be Peat Monster. And now that I’ve said that out loud… I kind of want “table Scotch” to be more of a thing. At least in my house.
SCORE: 3.5/5 (tasty, worth checking out ~ B | 83-86)
Compass Box Orchard House Review $50
Summary
Easy, fruity, tasty, daily drinker level whisky that keeps the senses happy.
Overall
3.5- Nose (3.5)
- Palate (3.5)
- Finish (3.5)
- BBF (3.5)
