Compass Box Duality

This is a special collaboration between us and Bimber, a creator of exceptional spirits in north-west London since 2016. The idea was hatched to swap parcels of sherry-matured whisky, each team combining them with different peated malts and releasing their own expression under the heading "Duality."

Our whisky takes Bimber single malt, aged in PX-seasoned sherry casks, and combines it with intensely smoky 'teaspooned' whisky from the Ardbeg Distillery. In exchange we gave a sherry butt of whisky from the Glendullan Distillery to Matt McKay at Bimber.

Tasting note

Nose

Lots of peat, lots of iodine. Ardbeg is very evident and definitely prevails in the aroma. Tropical fruit on a beach BBQ.

Taste

A great combination of peat and fruit. Full, bold, spicy, nutty, sweet and a particularly powerful aroma.

Finish

In the finish, Ardbeg also wins, but Bimber provides the elegance. 

Compass Box

Compass Box is a pioneer in the whisky world, elevating blending to an art form and breaking traditional boundaries with its innovative approach. Led by John Glaser, the company has built a reputation for creating complex, high-quality whiskies loved by connoisseurs and newcomers alike. With their commitment to quality, innovation and transparency, Compass Box remains an influential force in the whisky industry, and their whiskies are considered some of the most interesting and bold products on the market.

Philosophy

Compass Box sees blending whisky as an art form. Instead of focusing on single malt whisky, the company emphasises on creating exceptional blends. They believe that by combining different whiskies, it is possible to create something greater than the sum of its parts.

Compass Box is known for its experimental approach, such as using unusual cask types, including new French oak casks, or creating blends that fall outside the usual flavour profiles. This approach has earned them both praise and controversy within the whisky world.

One of the most distinctive aspects of Compass Box is their commitment to transparency. They share extensive information about the composition of their whiskies, including provenance, age and types of casks used. This is in contrast to the norm in the industry, where such details are often kept secret.