.compass box - flaming heart - 4th edition

Every few years, Compass box are able to blend the perfect blended malt from a combination of appropriate aged whiskies, resulting in the Flaming Heart. A blended malt whisky, that keeps the character of the ingredient malts available for you to discover.

48,9% abv, €100, blended malt, non-chill filtered, natural colour

Nose: slight peat smoke, fresh, fruit, warm apples, spicy, cinnamon, sage, floral, heather, a hint of dried fruit, sultanas, orange peel 

Palate: sweet, fruity, a hint of smoke, sweet, honeycomb, creamy, vanilla, hard caramel, stewed apples, dried fruits, spicy, white pepper, sage, cinnamon, dried fruit, sultanas

Finish: smoky, sweet, honeycomb, dried fruits, sultanas, leathery, slightly dry, long
Mark: ++++/+ 

Conclusion: insanely balanced. The Islay smoke is there, and is exactly enough, not overpowering the sweetness and fruitiness of the highland malts. Love.

More info: only 9147 bottles were filled in 2012, Single malt whiskies from distilleries located in the Northern Highlands, Islay, Speyside and Islands. Primarily from the south shore of Islay (most likely Laphroaig) and the village of Brora (Clynelish). Matured in a combination of refill American oak (ex-Bourbon), new French oak (heavily toasted) and sherry casks.