Compass Box has announced its latest limited edition, Secrets of Smoke, meant to highlight the “secret sweetness” behind peated malts.
Available beginning this month nationwide, Secrets of Smoke has hints of honey, buttery pears and caramel, the company reports. With coastal smoky undertones, the flavor is spicy with pear, peach and melon. Then a growing citrusy taste gives way to a chocolatey and peaty finish.
The science behind Secrets of Smoke lies in the Caol Ila finished in Palo Cortado sherry-seasoned butts, The Peat Monster finished in second-fill red wine casks, and Laphroaig finished in Marsala barriques. This process reveals the fruity, creamy and floral characteristics seldom associated with peated malts, the company says.
“Our limited editions allow us to spread our creative wings and concoct one-off expressions with unique recipes,” says Compass Box director of whiskymaking, James Saxon. “With Secrets of Smoke, we wanted to build on the results of some of our cask experiments and enhance the unexpected sweetness of peated malts.”
Keeping in line with Compass Box’s artistic labels, Secrets of Smoke sports a “mysteriously” dark background with holographic foils meant to represent the sweet flavors of the blend.
Secrets of Smoke pairs with a variety of foods, including fresh cherries that add a sweet jamminess to the whisky, sharp blue cheese for a classic accompaniment to smoky whisky, and Saucisson, where the meat and smoke interplay, the company reports.
Secrets of Smoke is 104 proof. A total of 9,792 bottles roll out worldwide for a suggested retail price of $165 per 700-ml. bottle.
