Scotland’s leading independent Scotch whiskymaker and six-time Whisky Magazine Innovator of the Year, Compass Box, today introduces its latest Limited Edition Blended Malt Scotch Whisky, named simply: ‘Enlightenment’. Explaining the significance of the release, Compass Box Founder and Whiskymaker John Glaser comments:
‘Since launching the Compass Box Whisky Co., we have always believed that the more information we can share with our customers about the Scotch whisky we produce, the better. Unfortunately, it recently became clear that our beliefs fall foul of current EU and UK regulations, which specifically prohibit us from sharing information about the age of the component whiskies we use with our customers. All our Limited Editions are special but with this one there is an added purpose – to draw attention to the issues with the current regulations and encourage the industry to respond.’
Earlier this year Compass Box launched their Scotch Whisky Transparency Campaign to update regulations which currently prohibit producers sharing details of the ages of the component whiskies that go into their blends. Glaser explains the limitations of the current regulations:
‘By law, we’re not allowed to tell customers the age of the component whiskies used to create Enlightenment. We can tell you that Enlightenment is a blend of malt whiskies from the Clynelish, Glentauchers, Balblair and Mortlach distilleries. We can tell you that you will find a bright apple and pear quality on the nose, soft spice and light citrus fruit notes on the palate with a mouth-watering finish full of an alluring apple peel waxiness. We can tell you the casks the whisky was matured in – but crucially we can’t tell you how long for.’
Commenting on the name and packaging design, which includes several references to the Age of Enlightenment, Glaser explains:
‘The name comes predominantly from the fact that the whisky is an incredibly light, bright style – but we’d be lying if we said there wasn’t another message there too. We were attracted to certain themes from the Age of Enlightenment – the questioning mind-set that epitomises that era, the way the traditional orthodoxy was challenged and broken down through logic rather than brute force. People will draw their own conclusions about the name but let’s just say it seemed a fitting one for us.’
To date over 7,000 whisky enthusiasts and a number of other independent producers have publicly voiced their support for the Compass Box Scotch Whisky Transparency. Glaser remains hopeful of a positive outcome:
‘The feedback to date has been receptive, the conversation continues; we remain hopeful of a positive outcome. And as the march towards full transparency continues, what better partner for the journey than this uplifting, enlightening whisky with which to ponder the world of Scotch not only as it is, but also as it could be?’
Bottled at 46% ABV, a total of 5,922 bottles of Enlightenment will be widely available in Europe from 18th May 2016 and in the US from 1st June 2016 at £60 / $85 / €79 SRP.
Full details of the Scotch Whisky Transparency Campaign click here
Full product details for Enlightenment click here
For more information click here