Compass Box Nectarosity Blended Malt Scotch Whisky 46%

The name is invented, and it fits rather well. Nectarosity tries to catch the fruit sweetness that appears when pale malt and active American oak are given long enough together.

Expert description

Compass Box Nectarosity is a Blended Malt Scotch Whisky bottled at 46% without chill filtration and without added colouring.

The whisky matured in a combination of first fill bourbon casks, refill sherry puncheons and custom made American oak casks. The three cask types pull in different directions — vanilla and coconut from the bourbon wood, dried fruit from the sherry, and a softer spiced sweetness from the bespoke oak. Compass Box has since 2000 worked on the principle that the recipe should be told openly, and the house publishes the composition of its blends.

Tasting notes

Nose

Peach, apricot and pale honey. Under the fruit sit vanilla, coconut and a light floral note.

Palate

Fruit-sweet and round. Caramel, ripe pear, orange and vanilla, with a malt core keeping the sweetness in check. The 46% gives a decent grip without turning hard.

Finish

Medium and soft, with honey, pale caramel and a dry, spiced close.

Specifications

Name: Compass Box Nectarosity Blended Malt Scotch Whisky 46%
Bottler: Compass Box
Region/Country: Scotland
Type: Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 46 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: First fill bourbon casks, sherry puncheons and American oak
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Edition: Nectarosity
EAN no.: 5060632881724

Flavour profile

Fruity · Honeyed · Vanilla · Soft · Caramel

Did you know?

Compass Box does not just blend whisky — it also has casks built to order. By commissioning custom American oak with a specified toast, the house can aim at a flavour direction that does not exist in ordinary refill wood.

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Frequently asked questions about Compass Box Nectarosity

What is a blended malt?

A mixture made purely of malt whisky from several distilleries, with no grain whisky. The blender can therefore combine characters no single distillery delivers alone. See more in our Blended Malt Scotch Whisky.

What does first fill cask mean?

That the cask is filled with Scotch for the first time after holding bourbon. The wood is still active and gives more vanilla, coconut and sweetness than a cask used several times.

Is it too sweet?

The sweetness is clear, but it is held in place by the malt core and by the dryness of the oak. If you like fruit-driven whisky without smoke, it lands well. If you want dry and mineral, look elsewhere.

Does it work in cocktails?

Yes. The fruit sweetness holds its own in a whisky sour or a highball against citrus and bubbles. Neat it is still the more interesting proposition.

What is a sherry puncheon?

A large cask of around 500 litres that previously held sherry. The size gives slow maturation and a milder sherry influence than a butt of the same type.

Who are Compass Box?

An independent Scottish blending house founded in 2000 by John Glaser. They do not distil themselves but buy casks and marry them, and they are known for telling you openly what is in the bottle.