IN EVENTS AT BOTH Astor Wines and Truman's Gentlemen's Groomers last week, Compass Box president John Glaser celebrated the 10th anniversary of the unconventional scotch whisky label with the debut of the Flaming Heart blend.
"You can tell by my accent, I'm American," Glaser told a crowd of members and media at Truman's. "We're the only scotch whisky that offers a range of expressions, from mild to peaty, from sweet to full-bodied."
Compass Box expressions focus on blending single malts from other distilleries (usually hard-to-find, small batch or those who predominately focus on supplying "private label" whisky to commercial brands). But this is no Dewars or Chivas: The goal is to evoke distinctly Scottish flavors, from blends of peaty Islay or vanilla-trending Highlands single malts, to blends of grain and malt whiskies, the company is all about exposing drinkers to differing styles of scotch whisky.
"When I'm introducing someone to the brand, I hand them one of the labels," says Glaser. "If they say, 'I don't like this, and this is why I don't like scotch," I suggest they try another of our brands. They're approachable, and each one is different."
Not unlike Del Maquey Mezcals or Plantation Rums, where the same label is an umbrella for a wide variety of single village / single island expressions, Glaser hopes drinkers learn there is more to scotch whisky than simply aging it 10, 12 and 18 years. As such, the company offers five "base" labels--Asyla (malt and grain blend), Oak Cross (10- to 12-year-old Highland single malts), The Peat Monster (10- to 16-year Islay, south shore and Ardmore blend), The Spice Tree (10- and 12-year Highland blend), and Hedonism (12- to 28-year whiskies)--each with its own distinct flavor profile. In addition, the company regularly releases a variety of limited editions, including its unique and very popular fresh orange zest-inflected Orangerie.
A hair salon may seem a surprising location for an NYC liquor debut, but Truman's is special: An upscale salon catering to men with large, private stations, masculine amenities (a manicure is a "Handshake Maintenance") and a full bar for guests.
"We try and bring in great brands and thank our members," said co-owner Joe Marchesi. "It's been an unbelievable experience."
For Flaming Heart, Glaser sought to evoke an unusual balance among sweet, peat and spice that he'd found in an early limited edition he called Eleuthera. "Eleuthera was this lovely balance of sweet and and fruity, with spice and peat," he says. "In a sense, Flaming Heart is kind of an homage to that first extension of Compass Box."
Compass Box's 10th Anniversary Flaming Heart malt Scotch whisky is being produced in a limited release of 4,000 bottles (1,800 available in the U.S.). It should be available at NYC locations like Columbus Wine & Spirits and Park Avenue Liquor Shop by October 25.
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