Compass Box has dropped Hedonism from their core lineup. What has the world come to?! But in all seriousness, I am quite devastated albeit I do understand their reasons for making this decision. However, Compass Box has upped the ante by utilizing more mature whiskys on the first limited annual release of Hedonism. Is it different enough from the original, core lineup Hedonism for you to run out and snag a bottle? The nose is deep, sweet and rich. Vanilla, caramel, butterscotch and honey make for a sweet and viscous nose. It doesn't lose the grain whisky quality. There is also just a bit of baking spice and coconut to balance out all that sticky sweetness. There's a noticeable ethanol heat to the nose I don't remember from the core selection, though. The palate and finish do conjure up original Hedonism vibes but add a bit of complexity. Milk chocolate and custard on the palate. A little bit of spicy peppercorn comes on mid taste along with some vanilla. There's an interesting quality about the spice that's now mixed in to this 2024 edition - definitely getting coconut shavings still but the back half of the taste has a peppercorn and clove thing happening. The finish lingers with that peppercorn and clove. It carries a pretty decent mouthfeel to the finish but surprisingly, a hint of orange pith makes an appearance right towards the end of finish. So is it different to the old core selection Hedonism? Yes, quite different. It's a slightly more complex, slightly spicier and bolder version of Hedonism which was always creamy, soft and sweet. I think this 2024 version pulls this whisky out of the dedicated dessert dram segment that it once occupied. Yes, it is still sweet but has much more to offer. Taste is subjective but whilst I'm not giving this any higher of a score than the original ( in fact, the very same ), I think this bottle is worth the price at around RRP but I would not pay inflated secondary pricing on this.
About this bottle
This limited edition release from Compass Box pays homage to the brand's first whisky released in 2000 named Hedonism — a blended grain Scotch whisky. Due to the high demand of quality grain whiskies over the years, Hedonism is now released in annual, limited edition releases beginning with this release. Here, the brand uses old and rare grain whiskies which were primarily matured in first-fill bourbon barrels. Included in the blend are some of the last grain whiskies from the 1990s. Just 8,000 bottles are available worldwide with the US getting its allotment in February 2024. (SRP $150/700ml)
Reviews
Showing the most detailed of 2 parsed reviews.
Sweet pears & green apples. Quite nice, easy to drink, dope label, unfortunately soured by a heftier price tag coupled with a 700ml bottle.
Tastes like this
Same style and price bracket, best rated first.
