Compass Box Lost Blend takes its name from the short story written by O. Henry (1907). It’s a story about two guys who own a bar in NYC and try blending different spirits together to create a new drink that has supernatural properties. It’s also in reference to Compass Box’s own “lost bled” the Compass Box Eleuthera which was a combination of 15 yr old Clynelish (some aged in re-charred hogsheads) and 12 year old Caol Ila.
The original was Eleuthera was discontinued because they couldn’t get ahold of the 15 year old Clynelish aged in the recharred hogsheads anymore. This homage to that dram is mostly made of Clynelish aged in recharred hogsheads followed by Caol Ila aged in refill hogshead and finally some Alt-A-Bhainne aged in a first fill hogshead. Age statements aren’t given for the individual malts, but when it tastes this good who cares how old the Compass Box Lost Blend is.
Compass Box Lost Blend Info
Region: Scotland
Bottler: Compass Box Whisky Co.
Blend: 70.8% Clynelish, 22% Caol Ila, 7.5% Alt-A-Bhainne
Cask: Recharred, Refill and First Fill Hogsheads
Age: NAS
ABV: 46%
Non-Chill Filtered | Natural Color
Price: $105
Compass Box Lost Blend Review
EYE
Straw
NOSE
Mild peat, citrus peel, dark sweets, malt, graininess, graham and a touch of spice. It’s a nice smelling whisky through and through.
PALATE
Fruit, peat, citrus, caramel, spice, toasted wheat and a touch of dark sweets. Like the nose it’s nice through and through, but lacks the complexity that would push it up to the next level.
FINISH
Long fade of spice, peat, sweetness, citrus
BALANCE, BODY & FEEL
Good balance, full body, oily feel.
OVERALL
Compass Box Lost Blend is a nice lovely whiskey and if it wasn’t $100+ I would have picked up my own bottle long ago. It has a nice balance to it that stretches from the nose to the palate and through the finish. This balance is the hallmark and key selling point of any good blend. The only thing it’s lacking is a bit more depth.
With a bit more complexity and a bit deeper presence it could have easily been an A- whisky. Regardless, it’s still a fine tasting dram and if you haven’t tried it I’d say it’s well worth a taste. No doubt about it, Compass Box Lost Blend is a good pure malt blend.
SCORE: 87-89/100 (B+, not consumed at home)
