Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Malt Mission 2008 #316


Compass Box Asyla
Blended Scotch Whisky
40% abv

£24.99

$40 (USD)

This is the first and only blended whisky from whisky creator and all-round admirable guy John Glaser and Compass Box. It also marks the last marque in his range that has not yet been on the mission (if we include the Cantos as a single "expression"). Oh damn... execpt for Orangerie... which I see has just been re-released!!! Woo hoo!

The name Asyla is beautiful and evokes the problematic notion of finding refuge in a bottle, perhaps inappropriate to some, but for others an idea that resonates with the definition of institutions "for the protection or relief of some class of destitute, unfortunate, or afflicted persons." Anyone feel a little unfortunate these days? Smile! Life is wonderful SO FIND THE WONDER!!! I promise it is there in the company of your friends and family, the smiles of the children around you, in your own resourcefulness and creativity, and, yes, in delicious and beautifully crafted scotch whisky, in spite of what some haphazardly composed "satircal prose" might tell you.

This whisky is made up of single malts (Linkwood, Glen Elgin, Teaninich) and grain whisky (Cameron Bridge) 100% matured in first fill (ex-bourbon) American oak barrels. Awards have been draped upon this whisky since its inception.

For all Compass Box had on the Malt Mission, click HERE.

with Ran and Matt.

TASTING NOTES:

Baked goods, light and clean, wood treatment/laquer, orange furniture polish thing that mums use. "A little bit grassy"-MH, "yeah, hay"-Ran.

Much fuller on palate than nose, but soft. Malty with some citrus. Hazelnuts, All-Bran. "Quite a nice, smooth aftertaste."-RM

SUMMARY:

Grows on you, "more than it ever seems it will be." Tight bordering on flat, but quite full and smooth, rich and sweet. Good hillwalking summer dram and the front line redeemer of a whole category of scotch whisky.

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1 comment:

Anonymous said...

"the front line redeemer of a whole category of scotch whisky"

Do I take it that you aren't that keen on blended whisky?

I'm aware that maybe some malt fans look down on blended whisky as a poor relation, and that people such as Jim Murray say that this makes no sense, etc. etc.

But... but, but, but... try as I might, I just don't enjoyed blended Scotch. I've even splashed out for the best recently, Old Parr Superior, Ballantine's 17 y-o, etc., but I just don't enjoy it. There's a combination of bland and smooth, coupled with a certain bitter/sour taste there, that means that the whole package just doesn't appeal.

Or is just me?

I find single malts feistier and also sweeter, and for me that's just wonderful.