Compass Box Hedonism The Muse Review

Compass Box Hedonism The Muse is a blended grain whisky from Compass Box that was inspired by a Butt of blended grain whisky they found in a warehouse in Scotland. That actual Butt makes up 13.8% of the whisky in this bottle and was what John and Co built the rest of this whisky around which was both a tribute to and a building upon what they’ve accomplished with the traditional Compass Box Hedonism.

Compass Box Hedonism The Muse

While finding casks of pre-blended whisky in a warehouse might sound odd it definitely happens. Back in 2014 I reviewed the Faultline 32 year Blended Scotch which came from a similar scenario. The guys from K&L were hunting through Scottish warehouses, found an “orphaned” cask of old, pre-blended, Scotch and so they bottled it. This is a similar situation, but instead of bottling it, the Compass Box folks built an entirely new whisky around it.

Compass Box Hedonism The Muse Review: Details and Tasting Notes

In Compass Box’s Words: Compass Box Hedonism The Muse

“Hedonism will always be special to us as the whisky that launched the company, and every so often, we go back to where it all started. When we recently discovered a cask of exceptional aged grain whisky in the spectrum of flavours of a Hedonism whisky, we were compelled to return to the concept once again.

Hedonism, The Muse combines this single cask with other rare and remarkable grain whiskies of varying ages to create a whisky that has all the flavour hallmarks of the classic Hedonism, with even greater depth and intensity.”

Compass Box Hedonism The Muse price, ABV, age and other details

Region: Scotland

Blender: Compass Box
Blend and Casks: 27.2% Invergordon (ex-Bourbon), 20.4% North British (re-Charred barrel), 16% Strathclyde (refill Hogshead), 15.7% North British (First Fill ex-Bourbon), 13.8% Unknown Blended Grain (Butt), 3.6% Port Dundas (re-Charred barrel), 3.3% Port Dundas (Hogshead)
Age: NAS
ABV: 53.3%

Cask Strength | Non-Chill Filtered | Natural Color

Price: NA – Auction, Specialty Store or Private Seller ($400 when avail)

Compass Box Hedonism The Muse Tasting Notes

EYE
Bronze

NOSE
Cinnamon, nutmeg, oak, sweet cream, pine, herbal notes and a bit of soap.

PALATE
Piney herbal notes, cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, oak, sweet cream, banana and a touch of vanilla taffy and caramel.

FINISH
Long -> Herbal, baking spice and banana.

BALANCE, BODY & FEEL
Good balance, medium body and a slick oily feel.

Compass Box Hedonism The Muse Review: OVERALL

Compass Box Hedonism The Muse Review

Compass Box Hedonism The Muse is a mega spice bomb all around and I have no major complaints about that. The aroma has a slight bit of sweetness; the palate holds a bit more sweetness than the aroma and it builds to its height in the finish with the whole experience residing under a heavy blanket of baking spice… and I like that.

It’s not a whisky that’s likely to blow you away, but it is a whisky that’s likely to make you pause for a second and consider what’s happening in your glass. All around it’s a nice whisky that brings some unique characteristics to the table and on the whole is something I’d be more than happy to have on my shelf… if I could find it at a decent price that is