Compass Box The Double Single

Ah, how do I begin to express my feelings about this simplistic Compass Box release: The Double Single? Well, suffice as to say that it took me nearly 2/3 of this bottle to finally get into the nitty gritty of this one. Maybe it was me, maybe palate fatigue, maybe just the change of seasons and the early onset of darkness that winter brings...who knows. It just took me awhile to warm up to this one. And I’m not sure I really did. Here’s the info: this is CBW trying to prove they can make a stellar blended whisky with just 2 simple ingredients- a well-aged single malt and a mass produced single grain. The single malt is 19 year old Glen Elgin and it makes up 72% of this blend. The remaining 28% is grain whisky from Girvan. It’s bottled at 46% ABV and like all Compass Boxes it’s NCF’d and has no artificial color added. It’s a lovely champagne gold and makes skinny, fast forming legs in the tasting glass. It doesn’t appear very oily at all. The nose is dominated by salt-&-toffee-covered green apples with the tiniest bit of light oak mingling with the orchard fruitiness. No real hint of alcohol or general spirit here either. Light and enjoyable. The whisky greets your palate with what initially caught me as Wrigley’s Double Mint gum. There’s spearmint and menthol that fades away to apples and cereal malt. It has a salty mouthfeel as it dries on the tongue and begins to warm you the way any spirit should, but at no point did it feel smooth or oily. I would call it abrasive if you accept that I mean that in a neutral/good way. The finish is long and full of spices that nail down the salty, dry feeling you get right after you brush your teeth. You can actually feel the alcohol drying and evaporating off of the tongue. It’s very lively. Overall, if I just take into account (as John Glaser probably wants) that there is just 2 simple ingredients I would have to bow down and say it is a wonderful creation. If I take it as an entire CB whisky experience (like I want to) then I say it falls short for making a statement, like most other CBW whiskies do IMO. If I factor in the crazy price tag of $155- well, then I think I should start to deduct grades. It’s a valiant effort with a ridiculous price tag. I can’t say I’d replace this bottle either because you can find plenty of other blends that leave you wanting something more for a whole lot less. This isn’t a fail- it just isn’t a win for me. 3.75 stars. Cheers, my friends. Happy New Year, as well. Bring on 2018!

If you follow my reviews, you know how i feel about most Compass Box whiskies: they have the best marketing, the most lovely bottles, but they don't live to my expectations. There are exceptions to that rule, like the "No Name" and some other that i don't recall right now. This is a 180$ bottle, and as all CB expressions, this is not a bad dram, but, is it worth THAT much? Bottled at 46%abv; golden color. This one is a blend called "the double single" because it is made of one Single Malt, Glen Elgin; and one Single Grain Whisky, Girvan. Not the brightest name ever, but lets talk about the aromas and flavors it offers. On the nose, it is maybe the fruitiest whisky ever. Since this dram is 78% Glen Elgin, it screams Speyside. Starts with a Fresh but dim orange aroma. Fancy vanilla. Fancy but dim citrusness. Very fruity, Green apples. Letting it breath reveales an amazing fruitiness, very clean very juicy. Fresh fruits, Very floral; Not a single trace of alcohol. It smells like a Fruit market. It is actually not diverse or complex, just fruity in a very appealing way. Orange juice, Apples, super fresh. Lovely aroma, when i started nosing i was going to give it a 19. It is a 24 over 25. Palate is ok. Keeps most of the fruitiness and gives you a lot of that grain whisky vanilla flavors. Sider and a pleasant oak spice. Second sip revealed vanilla cream; There is a pleasant spiciness overall. That mixes well with the apple flavor. Vanilla gets fancier with every sip. Aftertaste is also decent, nothing to die for. Macerated fruit liquors, Apples. It is fresh but simple. Maybe a tobacco note on my third sip. Some dim peat. Overall, i have mixed feelings about it. I want to be clear this is NOT worthy of $180 dollars, a $75 price would be suitable for it. It is NOT a bad whisky, but it is also not a memorable one. I believe that when CB said that a sum of its parts should make a better whisky they weren't lying since i believe this is a better whisky that a single malt from Glen Elgin and definitively from Girvan which is not one of my favorites. For $160 i can get a Glendronach 18yo which might just be the best whisky you can ever buy, so that is conflicting in my mind. Nevertheless, regardless of the price, i believe this is a 82 over 100 whisky, and that is because the aroma is so good, because the rest of it, is just regular.

Another of the bonus samples from our SDT group. This one provided by @LeeEvolved The Double Single is so named because it is a blend of one single malt (Glen Elgin - 72%) and one single grain (Girvan - 28%). Bottled at 46% ABV and as all CBW releases are, this is non chill filtered and natural color. This one is a yellow gold. The nose starts off with lemon zest and baked lemon bars. Lots of vanilla and toffee. Some faint butterscotch. Candle wax becomes more and more prominent, like a candle dripping hot wax onto an unfinished oak table. Heather honey, floral and herbal. A little more fruity notes like apricots and peaches in cream slide in. Subtle white grape juice. Cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger. Finally some oranges dusted in cocoa powder. The palate arrives a little thin with some lemon, but quickly transitions into a full on waxy experience. It’s like chewing on wax bottle candies. You know the kind, with the different flavored syrups in them. Like that, only with scotch inside. It turns fruity with pears, apricots and peaches. Soft vanilla, toffee and caramel. A little toasted oak and coconut milk. There’s a hit of menthol here and there with a pine needle note. A slight grain alcohol feel but nothing too unpleasant. All of everything covered in wax though. A medium light bodied mouthfeel that is lightly oily, dry and mouth coating. A medium long finish that is very dry with waxy lemons, grain and floral notes. John Glaser and the folks at CBW have done it again. They’ve taken two ingredients and created something greater than the sum of the parts. This is not an in your face expression like Peat Monster or Flaming Heart, but it is quite elegant in its relative simplicity. The waxiest whisky I’ve ever had, quite unique in that regard. This would make for a great early summertime sipper, relaxing and listening to the ball game on the radio. At $155 I cant say it’s worth the money, but limited releases like these (only 5838 bottles) often command higher prices. It’s not going to blow your mind, but it will take you to your happy place if you let it. Thanks again Lee. A solid 4. Cheers

Happy hour. 16 degrees outside. Fire winding down from the afternoon burn. Music playing. Grabbed a Double Single to warm up. A soft delicate earthiness funky nose. Lemon shortcake, vanilla, caramel. Somewhat like a lemon Halls cough drop. Honey, heather and a pinch of cinnamon powder. Some fruity notes of pears and apricots. Loaded with aromas. Springlike images come to mind, even on this frigid evening. A sweet arrival of white sugar. Medium body that’s not oily (lacking the appropriate word for that quality). Oak and lemon zest. Waxy, candle-like notes with honey, vanilla, white pepper. What good and well balanced flavors. A warming ginger spice finish. Slightly drying oak and lemon bitterness. The wax notes hang on from the palate. A minty note rides out the finish. There was a time when Johnnie Walker, Chivas or Dewars were the de facto, old school blended whiskies. Compass is the new school blend. John Glaser and company are pushing boundaries and creating some dynamic, fun, inspiring whiskies. The Single Double is a fine example of this; their care and quality are exceptional. I find their blends better than most Single malts that I have come across. Their only weakness, as with most, is producing whisky at an accessible price. The Single Double: A great, enjoyable whisky. Thanks @LeeEvolved for providing this great sample. [90/100][Tasted: 12/28/17]

Thanks to @LeeEvolved, I got to try this CB sample. You really have to hand it to Glaser and team. They produce fine blends, really push the boundaries on transparency, and offer everything from amazing entry level ( Great King St) to super-premium ( "3"). Out of all CB offerings, the only one I wouldn't drink again would be the Orangerie. Other than that orange Tang mess, every other one is a good to amazing. This here falls squarely in the "good" category. He's made a statement that he can create a fine blend by two simple ingredients. And it's a fine blend indeed, with a citrus forward nose and a woody vanilla waxiness on the palette. But at $150...I'm questioning if it's really that good. Just my opinion, but the No Name was basically all young Ardbeg at $100. This is basically a majority of Glen Elgin at well over $150. I'm finding that CB makes amazing core ranges, but their recent limited one-offs may be too expensive for what it offers. A good product, and definately something I'd have again, but not sure I'd buy it at $150. Also, interestingly, as transparent as CB is, I can be mistaken, but I don't think he's revealed the age statements of the two ingredients. Honestly...for $150, I want to know the age.

Time to be brave, my friends. You see, the “G” word, Girvan, scares me, and there’s 28% of that waxy whisky in this offering. On the nose, I get sawdust, brine, potato, and very subtle vanilla. Not bad, but not much to speak of either. The palate was much better than expected. The Girvan here is not the star of the show, so the waxiness is just to help the nice mouth coat. There are buttery pears, apple, and vanilla, but no smoke, spices, or any “dark arts”. This would be much better in the summer, and a solid dram. The finish is medium length, salty/vanilla-y, but dry. Let’s try a couple drops of water, just to see if anything else develops. Nose is even more muted, and the palate is similar, but the burn was somehow more pronounced. If you want a bright and light Compass Box, look no further, but I need something more. This is a 3.75 for me. The theme of this glass should tell that shimmer pop story. How about “Move” by Saint Motel.