Hedonism Scotch – Review

Hedonism Limited Release Grain Scotch Whisky

86 Proof

Price Point: $95 – $105 for 750 ML

Distiller: Compass Box Whisky Co.

Background

As I’ve stated here many times, I love whiskey for its diversity.  When distillers and blenders reach out past the ordinary boundaries of whiskey, sometimes they achieve something special.  And sometimes, they don’t.

Compass Box is a company that takes premium whiskies from around Scotland, and blends them together to create some very interesting expressions.  They are the masterminds behind The Peat Monster and Spice Tree, two of my favorites.  Hedonism caught my eye, with a label promising “Richly textured flavours of vanilla and toffee mark this bottling of rare old grain whiskies.”  With a few more bucks in my wallet than usual, I picked up a bottle of this captivating whisky and brought it home for a taste.

Review

The nose is grainy, as expected.  No trace of malt whatsoever, which is slightly off-putting to me.  It’s a little harsh on the nose, and slightly reminiscent of a Canadian (I’m thinking Forty Creek).  Overall, an underwhelming experience on the nose.

If the aromas weren’t Canadian-esque to you, then surely the taste is!  The high notes are dominant here.  Hedonism is slightly nutty with some smooth, creamy vanilla.

The finish is sharp – not the greatest and certainly not all that memorable.

Rating & Recommendations

Hedonism falls a little short from my expecations, earning a score of 84 out of 100.

I’ve had nothing but good experiences with the expressions offered by Compass Box.  The quality may be there in the ingredients, but the taste leaves something to be desired.

-Ryan