Openness and transparency should not only be legal but demanded from the purveyor at point of purchase. Almost every other food stuff now requires a detailed list of ingredients and are being met with demands to share production practices and let people know what they are consuming: how it was made, where it came from, etc. I 100% agree and wish the Canadian whisky market would pick up on this. I don't mind the idea of e150a or inner staves but it should have to be declared on the bottle. Cheers, BG
At the SWA headquarters, 9 AM. "-Gentlemen we have a crisis on our hands, that american troublemaker is plotting to destroy our way of life again. - What somber plan has he been hatching this time? - I'm afraid he's... innovating. - God help us."
Hahaha! Alternate ending: "what's he done time?" "I'm afraid he's... He's informing his customers of what they're consuming." "Good God has he gone completely insane!?!"
I wrote a really angry piece on this a while back, I was furious, I mean I think Compass Box might, maybe, have known what would have happen but it's the under hand manner in which the complaint came about. The SWA do themselves zero favours here.
You are so well spoken and stand up honest. I love it. Your accent is very light. Some Scots are harder to decipher for us Americans. I am an American Mid Westerner. St. Louis area. Smack dab in the middle more or less. The connection with the ex bourbon American oak in the aging of scotch whisky is such a cool collaboration between countries too me. I am impressed as having learned a lot from you and having seen your positive reviews on American bourbons. I have had much worse experiences with those than I have fine scotches. Not totally a newbie, but loving the affordable peat bombs, No real need to state (ard/laph). You seem American to me, but you are a whisky scholar. That's the best I can explain it. Slainte Mhath Sir!. This one does sound very worth the try.
I wonder if the company that complained is also the large conglomerate that also owns the distilleries(Caol ila and Clynelish mainly) used in this blend, and complained at compass box as they've released a superior blend using the same malts they have access to and by showing the ages have also shown that compass box are using higher quality and older malts in their blends then the conglomerate's own blends named after colours, particularly a certain azure named blend prized as a "expensive and luxury" blend bought by business men as its "expensive and luxury" and comes in a very heavy bottle with a navy coloured lablel.
In december was my birthday, I bought this bottle as a gift to myself. Couldn't have been happier. One of the best whiskies of 2015 in my opinion! Like you said Ralfy, very nuanced flavours, well integrated but still intense and powerful. Lovely. The Caol Ila character is easy recognizable (good, I love Caol Ila) and I'm really getting the French oak casks. It just contributes to the whole thing. Nice to see you are also a happy man sipping this bottle! Tastewise that is.. ;) Cheers from the Netherlands
Thank you for enlightening me on this Ralfy. I had not heard about this, and frankly it is very upsetting. I hope the word gets out, and us true whisky lovers will give Compass Box our support, and show the scotch whisky association that we won't put up with their closed door policies anymore.
Ralfy, I have thoroughly enjoyed your reviews and the guidance they have provided in my journey with scotch whisky. This video led me to roll the dice on a bottle of flaming heart that I had noticed quite a few times in my local store. A dram of this whisky with just the right amount of water is simply beautiful, opens up and shows this peathead what else is in store. A truly spectacular blend. Thank you so much for the recommendation. I must say that I also agree with you in commending Compass Box for their transparency, other companies should take note.
Compass box and bruichladdich both get huge points in my book for their full transparency efforts. Coincidently (or not), both companies produce fantastic whisky. I really hope that more companies will start to take notice and follow suit.
Spot-on review,, I was absolutely blown away by this whisky,, I suspect it's brought a few whisky snobs down a peg or two,, myself included. I'm sitting on a case (not literally),, but I expect it won't last long.
Wahoo!! Ralfy, I have spent the last several months watching all of your vlogs, in order, and I have finally arrived at your latest review. What a marvelous, whisky knowledge expanding journey. Your reviews are entertaining, quirky at times, and truly shows the passion and love you have for your "Malty Moments" and the Whisky, (with and without the "e"), industry as a whole. Thank you. Well… There you go. Haste Ye Back, Frankie Di
Now that is some food for thought! Ralfy Review so interesting you hardly notice it's a 30 minute video 🤔 Thank you for bringing attention to this company and the behind the scenes drama smh
Fantastic review and rant Ralfy!!! I demand "wild-caught" salmon and non-GMO products. Put it on the LABLE so we as consumers can decide for ourselves! Sincerely, Ossie
Compass Box getting up the nose of tired old establishment industry mandarins again? And all the time they're producing whiskies that we all want to drink. It's time the SWA took a long hard look at its-self on such issues as they're starting to look like an irrelevance. Great review Ralfy.
Wonderful and important video. Thank you, Ralfy for your clear position (which I agree to for 100%). If there will be a formal request to the SWA, please let me know so I could sign it. Meanwhile I enjoy my Spice Tree and other quality Whiskies from Compass Box.
We thoroughly enjoyed this review. A fascinating blend, and all the detailed information on the Single Malts in this blend really add greatly. The story conveyed adds nicely to our general whisky education. (We here on our planet [the planet Vermontopia] also use the teaspoon as a standard, and for a moment during this review I thought maybe you were referring to our home-world.)
Seems to me the SWA have their heads up their arses. Clearly not in tune with what the malt mates appreciate about their whiskies. Going to buy a Compass Box whisky in support.!! (And still not going to buy NAS whiskies.)
One of your finest, Ralfy! In USA, juice drink mfrs are not allowed to claim (in product marketing) the product contains 'real juice' unless it is at least 10% juice by volume. I'm all for transparency in a list of ingredients or constituent malts, but what I don't want to see is 'contains 40 year old Glen ...' on the front of the bottle if it is by volume below some threshold (5 percent, say). So if the whisky is 99 percent 3 year old malt and 1 percent 40 year old, the company should have no business trumpeting on about the 40 year old malt the blend contained.
+ralfystuff hello there I've recently discovered your Channel thank you for your hard work I'm learning tons! I'm 24 and trying to broaden my whiskey knowledge, I'm off to a whiskey tasting in a few weeks and I need to take a bottle along!I'm torn between a springbank 12 year old @ 50.3 or ardbeg uigeadail? Any help would be appreciated thank you very much and keep up the good work!
thanks ralfy, only discovered your vlogs a couple of weeks ago and really enjoying the reviews, and enjoyed the semi rant here. I have left a comment on the Carsebridge 30 yr old review which I hope will be of interest to you
Wow Ralfy you crammed a lot in there, you are right whisky drinkers worldwide should come out in support of, Compass Box. Just going now to check the price of a bottle, thanks for the info Ralfy.
Seems like a brilliant marketing strategy, this "getting in trouble". Using lawyer tricks against lawyers. You might get a "cease and desist", but the info is out (only geeks buy this), forums are buzzing, critics ranting, the big wigs were provoked to attack the underdog, causing the anoraks to rally. Now you've got people buying bottles on principle, Ralfy supporting it, etc. Clever, no? 😎 I like that and will have to try a bottle. Hopefully SWA is not in on the jig 😁
I.e. remember how Maker's Mark said it would lower abv from 45% to 43% or some such? This caused an uproar, heated vows to boycott it and likely some buying of the old stock. Then they said, OK, we won't do it, our bad. Free publicity.
Ive really enjoyed every compass box whisky. They are one of the very few whiskys that ive seen that clearly say non chill filtered, no colouring added right on the bottle. For that alone it makes me respect them and enjoy their products more
Scary. I am surprised that SWA would send this letter. I found this to be one of the best blended whiskies I had, and am now a big compass box fan! Upon my first tastes, I knew it was special; but then reading the composition I know it was the Coal Ila. Big Coal Ila fan here and this whisky is special. Here in NYC we can order only two bottles at a time. So my order is in. Thanks for the excellent knowledge and review.
as always Ralfy you're quite informative and entertaining. What a birthday present.. And to top it off I'm enjoying a few drams of stuff you've inspired me to try. I wonder how much quality spirit sales have increased because of you. I started out with some Old Pulteney 12yo. then jumped on the Elmer T. Lee train. After that I went with some Balblair '02, and then Stranahan's Colorado Whiskey. And at the moment I'm enjoying some Lagavulin 12. I think I'll stop after that. Like you say.....quality not quantity. Cheers!
Actually it's a marriage of malt whiskies produced at the Clynelish, Teaninich an Dailuaine distilleries, given a second maturation for a minimum of two years in highly active new french oak hybrid barrels
Just got a bottle of this a few days ago along with another bottle of Spice tree (a must have in my liquor cabinet), my first purchase this year. Actually if they opened up shop in Ireland and re-introduced a flavor enhancing element like staves and called it Irish whiskey i'd still buy it. Who cares about the labeling it's the quality and enjoyment it brings.
Not sure if I missed you addressing it, if so I apologize. Which grains is Flaming Heart blended with? By the way, thanks for paving the way by the way Ralfy. I recently decided to join you on the mission to help people make whisky purchases that they will not regret.
Almost all Canadian whisky is blended. They are considered "blended" because they have a combination of rye, barely and corn grains. Sometimes wheat as well. Basically all whisky is grain based.
Can anyone tell me how this bottle of Flaming Heart I can buy @ $130 US compares to Ardbeg Corryvreckan and Uigeadail I just purchased at $75 and $60 ? Is it twice as good as these?
Ralfy, where did you get the information about the age of the whisky's in this blend. I looked at the fact sheet on the site of Compass Box, but can't find information about the age.
+Eddy De Keyser The information about the age of each component that was originally provided has been removed. It now lists each component but not the ages of each. Because of the letter from the SWA I presume.
Good Afternoon Ralfy!!! I just wanted to check and see if the line of affordable "Weller" products out of the Buffalo Trace distillery are on your review to do list. I'm not speaking of the expensive "William Larue Weller", which is too hard for me to find due to it's value on sites like ebay after it sales out in stores for the year. I'm speaking of the other three more affordable options which are: W.L. Weller Special Reserve, Old Weller Antique 107, W.L. Weller 12 year. I'd love to hear your review on these if possible.
Great review Ralfy! After reading about this scandal, I sent an email of encouragement to John Glaser and received a nice response from him. Another sign that Compass Box is a company worth supporting! Do you think we will ever see the SWA allow whisky producers give us the transparency that Compass Box tried to do?
Percentage weighted average age for mixture is 19 years. According to general SWA rules age is 7 years. Whisky doesn't taste like 7 years young whisky. Great story by Ralfy.
Very good review and I’m glad that the marketing angle for Compass Box hasn’t escaped notice here; I’m no more in favour of limiting product information to consumers than I support John Glaser’s “wanting to tell all he can” while simultaneously, and quite intentionally, withholding minimum age information, that no one stops him from sharing, on many of his products’ labels. Although I don’t doubt that he stands for more, rather than less, product information for consumers in the larger sense, if anyone sees a contradiction in Glaser’s current POV, it’s not a trick of the light. The folks at Compass Box are at the forefront of whisky blending, innovation and, although it’s not widely examined, careful positioning as consumer-championing underdogs. Is Compass Box being “picked on” by the SWA? Perhaps, but does that not also serve Compass Box’s marketing/publicity ends as well? As whisky satirist Whiskysponge has “predicted” for August of this year: “John Glaser feels that Compass Box’s sales are hitting a bit of a slump so creates another illegal label for one of his whiskies and reports himself to the SWA again.” A key point is that, as a trade association and NOT a regulatory body, the SWA may have legal opinions as an organization, but it doesn’t make legal rulings; its opinions can be legally challenged if Compass Box has the inclination to do so. Spice Tree’s inner staves, for example, were never “banned” - the SWA had no power to do so and the issue never went to court for a ruling; the SWA simply threatened legal action and Compass Box, having used the situation for all the free publicity possible, folded. Similarly, it was the SWA’s legal opinion that the information provided with/on Flaming Heart violates current EU treaty labeling/marketing law - and this is a statement of the position, not a defense of it - and there has been no legal challenge or decision, much less “banning”, in that case either. The larger issue, that even if the SWA is correct in thinking Compass Box’s moves violate current law, such law still clearly stands against consumer interests and those of whisky in general and should be changed/amended for that reason alone, speaks for itself. Defense of obfuscation cannot serve whisky at large or its consumers.
I immediately checked the price and I felt like an idiot because I'd really love to have one, but I'm uneployed and I can't afford it. Oh well... It's sad, by your review this blend sounds right up my alley. Ah well... such is life. The time for more expensive bottles will come.
+Freddie van ter Beek Its a blended Malt, big difference there. And i dont know Glenfarclas 21, but the 18 and the 25 year old. The 25 year old ist really good, but i was dissapointed by the 18 year old one.
Is this a blended whisky or is it a blend of single malt whiskys? If I look at www.thewhiskyexchange.com/p/30129/compass-box-flaming-heart-2015-edition they clam that; The fifteenth-anniversary bottling of Flaming Heart is comprised of 38.5% 14-year-old Caol Ila, 27.1% 30-year-old Caol Ila, 24.1% 20-year old Clynelish and 10.3% seven-year-old blended malt from Clynelish, Teaninich and Dailuaine. Where is the grain whisky in that mix? Why did you give it a blend mark instead of a malt mark?
+ralfystuff Thanks for your reply. Im one of your followers for meny years now. I think that I seen most of your 567 whiskyreviews. Keep up the good work. You tought me a lot. :)
hello ralfy...sir can you please orally answer my 2 questipns in your next review if you cant have a full episode on that..iv written the questions unde the re review of old pltney17...(relating to way of using and benifit of using dark chocolate,coffee anđ scotch together as suggested by richard paterson repeatedly......and abput cask strenhths and water-what strength should they be ideally reduced to on an average?38(as suggested by paterson)or 46 or should keep it above 50?because otherwise wouldnt the extra flavours offered by cask strenhths be lost and wouldnt it become similar to the normal version?example-laphroaig 10 and cask strength
+Sehraj Singh Virk . . . for me strength is reduced on average to 33% vol for any whisky with some cool water, whisky pairing with coffee and chocolate is fun and optional and can enhance, or diminish a whisky. All whiskies are best stored in their bottles neat, and water only added when put into a glass for drinking, good luck !
+ralfystuff..thanx a lot sir...last question(explanatory of earlier): i mean if laphroaig 10yrs and laphroaig 10 cask strength both are reduced to 33%in glass ofcourse,will there be any difference in taste and flavour? (because they say that laphroaig10=laphroaig10 cask strength+water)
$230 a bottle for Flaming Heart here in OZ ... flamin expensive if you ask me! I shant be partaking but as to everything else ... no problem here. In fact I'll stick to Great King Street from Compass Box instead.
Ralfy, why haven't you reviewed any McClellands scotch? I see they're distilled by bowmore and come in a highland, Speyside and Islay variety. It also looks to be the cheapest of any whiskey as well.
hello ralfy, couldn´t compass box hide their information in a kind of cryptic riddle in the future ? for example 75ci20/20clsh20/5glfrcs8 and so on. all maltheads would be able to read the "hidden"information and the SWA had no reason to complain because officially the numbers and letters didn´t mean anything. (I hope you understand my idea despite my humble english!)
Why would the SWA have a problem with transparency in this case? I can why another company might register a complaint but I don't understand why the SWA would uphold it.
so much for your statement not long so ago about reviewing whisky we can all afford. I would sooner chew my fingers off than pay £100 for a bottle of whisky. most I would pay is £50
Not cheap for a blended malt btw (British tax will be deducted if you order it from abroad, then your own country's alcohol tax will be added - so it'll be slightly cheaper). UKP 99.95!
+Tony . . . unfortunately half of viewers are on restricted internet access and higher definition would take too long to load and/or play on mobiles. I will review definition at some point in the future.
Part of me -- let's be realistic, most of me -- wishes Compass Box would just throw a middle finger at the SWA and do whatever the hell they want and simply not call it "Scotch." I'd gladly spend 20% more for an innovative, non-compromising blender/independent bottler instead of some company simply catering to the unreasonable whims of the SWA.
+SeymourSkinner Ah ok the reason i was wondering is Ralfy said he wasnt going to be reviewing any non age statement whiskies this year. I think he must have made the exception for Flaming Heart hehe
+Ralfystuff the 7 year old is a combination of Clynelish, Teaninich and Dailuaine. It's in the fine print at the bottom of this link: i.imgur.com/ribn9G4.jpg
Don't be distracted by the apparent underhandedness of the informer. The Scotch Whisky Association legal team is a five-lawyer team who would know perfectly well the stance adopted by Compass Box in their promotions. They are charged with enforcing clause 10.1 of the Scotch Whisky Regulations (2009): "The SWR maintain the longstanding rule regarding the use of age statements, namely that the only age which may be stated in the labelling, packaging or advertising of a Scotch Whisky is the age of the youngest Scotch Whisky in the product." This rule has a wide-ranging beneficial effect against deceptive advertising. The challenge is to write a nuance into the regulation, perhaps to allow the blending information in label's fine print, but not as a bold age-statement number on the big front of the label.
+David G Anderson The information was NOT on the label as far as I'm informed, but on an additional fact sheet. I think the SWA should enforce the regulation when it comes to the label and the outer box/tube. Additional facts regarding the age of the content in booklets, neck-hangers or on-line should be allowed. It should be simple to safeguard against misuse with the enforcement of principles like the following. 1. As a minimum age and percentage of content must be listed for all components involved in the blend or the vat. 2. The listing must always be in ascending order with regard to age to ensure that the first listed component is equal to the relevant age statement 3. All components should be listed in an equal manner. No particular component and it's age must be graphically or otherwise emphasized. 4. All listed components must hold exactly the same type of information The true reason for the SWA action is, in my opinion, to protect the increased use of NAS, as Compass Box initiative could raise inconvenient questions as to why other producers don’t reveal the same information. This would make it harder for them to gradually lower the average age and quality of their NAS bottlings in case they feel a need to do so.
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Here's another vote for transparency and for the customer knowing what's in the bottle. And Flaming Heart is a terrific whisky. Incidentally, one producer, Tomatin, agree: www.tomatin.com/blog/2015/11/20/greater-transparency-required?
No offense, but I prefer the old set arrangement. This one's too busy on one side, then there's only that scabrous wall to your left. Sorry ;) Anyhoo, nice review and rant.
I agree with your laissez faire attitude to what a producer can sell and a customer can buy, but it is not just whisky. The SWA is just an extension of over regulation and interference over everything we do. Back to mine for some bendy bananas?
The absurdity of the SWA decisions is most likely based on the fact that the Council for the SWA is mostly made up of members from various multi-national companies. These are people who most likely want less transparency in the industry instead of more. So when Compass Box comes along with a good idea, it immediately threatens the status quo. (As Ralfy would say, that's just an opinion.)
+chrish12345 I believe what Ralfy is saying is that 38.5% percent of the blend is 14yo Caol Ila (the rest being comprised of the stated %'ages of 30yo Caol Ila, 20yo Clynelish, and and 7yo "Highland" malt. The 38.5% is not ABV but proportion.
i think the decision to ban inner staves was right. think about it for a second. what would be next 20 years down the line after beefing up casks becomes insufficient (in their opinion)? maybe some cherry syrup? or liquid honey and spices in the cask for some "extra flavour"? if i would want that i would buy Southern Comfort instead of proper Whisky. if you support inner staves then you can just aswell support NAS and recasking of "single casks". "hey look we don't need age, we got inner staves". you think the industry wouldn't exploit it if the SWA allowed inner staves? inner staves would be a carte blanche for NAS.
+Antoine M -- That's ridiculous. Aside from the fact that NAS already exists, you are essentially saying that if inner staves shouldn't be banned then nothing else (cherry syrup, etc) can be banned either. Sound regulation is about making logical distinctions. Inner staves are not a flavouring additive.
+Richard Bostan sure NAS already exists, but the main excuse for NAS is to divert attention from age and directing it towards some "very special" wood technology and of course a romantic gaelic name. if you add inner staves to the mix then you have an extra card to play for NAS. it's a trend that needs to be halted or at least slowed down, not accelerated by giving a madman another knife. plus, how many disitllers/blend companies are as honest as Compass Box to mention it on their label, when half the industry is already on the NAS band wagon? the cherry syrup example was more of an exaggeration.
+Antoine M -- I haven't heard of any attempt to justify NAS scotch by referencing "wood technology." (That's an American thing, with many craft distillers in the US trying to mature whisky quickly enough to sell it after a year or two in oak.) We all know that NAS scotch is a product of shortages of fully-aged stocks at distilleries in Scotland, but the justification offered by the scotch distillers (whether sincere or not) is that ages are less important than flavour profiles, and if they can achieve the flavour profile they want with younger whisky they shouldn't be held hostage by a need to meet a certain minimum age. Nothing about wood.
You got me hooked on Compass Box, and the association's reaction to this, make me support Compass Box even more when I make a purchase!
Openness and transparency should not only be legal but demanded from the purveyor at point of purchase.
Almost every other food stuff now requires a detailed list of ingredients and are being met with demands to share production practices and let people know what they are consuming: how it was made, where it came from, etc.
I 100% agree and wish the Canadian whisky market would pick up on this. I don't mind the idea of e150a or inner staves but it should have to be declared on the bottle.
Cheers,
BG
At the SWA headquarters, 9 AM.
"-Gentlemen we have a crisis on our hands, that american troublemaker is plotting to destroy our way of life again.
- What somber plan has he been hatching this time?
- I'm afraid he's... innovating.
- God help us."
+V3role . . . rather well-put comment !
Hahaha! Alternate ending: "what's he done time?"
"I'm afraid he's... He's informing his customers of what they're consuming."
"Good God has he gone completely insane!?!"
Your way of reviewing and describing the drink is awesome. I don't even need to buy it to taste it listening to you..
I wrote a really angry piece on this a while back, I was furious, I mean I think Compass Box might, maybe, have known what would have happen but it's the under hand manner in which the complaint came about. The SWA do themselves zero favours here.
+John “The Captain” Marshall . . . agreed !
You are so well spoken and stand up honest. I love it. Your accent is very light. Some Scots are harder to decipher for us Americans. I am an American Mid Westerner. St. Louis area. Smack dab in the middle more or less. The connection with the ex bourbon American oak in the aging of scotch whisky is such a cool collaboration between countries too me. I am impressed as having learned a lot from you and having seen your positive reviews on American bourbons. I have had much worse experiences with those than I have fine scotches. Not totally a newbie, but loving the affordable peat bombs, No real need to state (ard/laph). You seem American to me, but you are a whisky scholar. That's the best I can explain it. Slainte Mhath Sir!. This one does sound very worth the try.
I wonder if the company that complained is also the large conglomerate that also owns the distilleries(Caol ila and Clynelish mainly) used in this blend, and complained at compass box as they've released a superior blend using the same malts they have access to and by showing the ages have also shown that compass box are using higher quality and older malts in their blends then the conglomerate's own blends named after colours, particularly a certain azure named blend prized as a "expensive and luxury" blend bought by business men as its "expensive and luxury" and comes in a very heavy bottle with a navy coloured lablel.
In december was my birthday, I bought this bottle as a gift to myself. Couldn't have been happier. One of the best whiskies of 2015 in my opinion! Like you said Ralfy, very nuanced flavours, well integrated but still intense and powerful. Lovely. The Caol Ila character is easy recognizable (good, I love Caol Ila) and I'm really getting the French oak casks. It just contributes to the whole thing. Nice to see you are also a happy man sipping this bottle! Tastewise that is.. ;)
Cheers from the Netherlands
the Highland malt is actually three malts blended together in very active hybrid casks containing French oak, 7 yo Clynelish, Teaninich and Dailuiane.
Thank you for enlightening me on this Ralfy.
I had not heard about this, and frankly it is very upsetting. I hope the word gets out, and us true whisky lovers will give Compass Box our support, and show the scotch whisky association that we won't put up with their closed door policies anymore.
Ralfy, I have thoroughly enjoyed your reviews and the guidance they have provided in my journey with scotch whisky. This video led me to roll the dice on a bottle of flaming heart that I had noticed quite a few times in my local store. A dram of this whisky with just the right amount of water is simply beautiful, opens up and shows this peathead what else is in store. A truly spectacular blend. Thank you so much for the recommendation. I must say that I also agree with you in commending Compass Box for their transparency, other companies should take note.
Compass box and bruichladdich both get huge points in my book for their full transparency efforts. Coincidently (or not), both companies produce fantastic whisky. I really hope that more companies will start to take notice and follow suit.
Awesome review! If this is as close as you get to a rant, then I welcome one of your real rants! Integrity, integrity, integrity...
Spot-on review,, I was absolutely blown away by this whisky,, I suspect it's brought a few whisky snobs down a peg or two,, myself included. I'm sitting on a case (not literally),, but I expect it won't last long.
Wahoo!! Ralfy, I have spent the last several months watching all of your vlogs, in order, and I have finally arrived at your latest review. What a marvelous, whisky knowledge expanding journey. Your reviews are entertaining, quirky at times, and truly shows the passion and love you have for your "Malty Moments" and the Whisky, (with and without the "e"), industry as a whole. Thank you. Well… There you go. Haste Ye Back,
Frankie Di
+Frankie Di . . . you have been incredibly patient ! thanks for watching.
Ralfy, your rant is much appreciated.
Now that is some food for thought! Ralfy Review so interesting you hardly notice it's a 30 minute video 🤔 Thank you for bringing attention to this company and the behind the scenes drama smh
Fantastic review and rant Ralfy!!! I demand "wild-caught" salmon and non-GMO products. Put it on the LABLE so we as consumers can decide for ourselves! Sincerely, Ossie
Compass Box getting up the nose of tired old establishment industry mandarins again? And all the time they're producing whiskies that we all want to drink. It's time the SWA took a long hard look at its-self on such issues as they're starting to look like an irrelevance. Great review Ralfy.
Wonderful and important video. Thank you, Ralfy for your clear position (which I agree to for 100%). If there will be a formal request to the SWA, please let me know so I could sign it. Meanwhile I enjoy my Spice Tree and other quality Whiskies from Compass Box.
Very well said Mr. Ralfy. I love your videos and conversations . Extremely educational production. Thank you !!! Greetings from Toronto.
Hi Ralfy i just bought a bottle of benriach sauternes wood finish and its fantastic i really recommend trying it.
my father loves it too.
The 8 thumbs down are from members of the SWA
The website now says the 10.3% is a Highland Malt consisting of "a marriage of" Clynelish, Teaninich, and Dailuaine
+10isdad . . . thanks for that update.
A message from 2021, I miss this ralfy! Great dram, great honest review.
Compass Box rocks. Love the vid!
We thoroughly enjoyed this review. A fascinating blend, and all the detailed information on the Single Malts in this blend really add greatly. The story conveyed adds nicely to our general whisky education.
(We here on our planet [the planet Vermontopia] also use the teaspoon as a standard, and for a moment during this review I thought maybe you were referring to our home-world.)
I’m starting to buy more Compass Box Whisky.
Thank you for the knowledge Ralfy. We must all care about what we put in our bodies. You can't go wrong with transparency.
Seems to me the SWA have their heads up their arses. Clearly not in tune with what the malt mates appreciate about their whiskies.
Going to buy a Compass Box whisky in support.!! (And still not going to buy NAS whiskies.)
Seconded
+kubr1ck36 Just bought me a peat monster!
Jordan Baker Let me know how you like it.!
It was great! I can't taste all the stuff that ralfy can, but I'd highly recommend it for anyone who loves peat.
Jordan Baker Nice to hear you like it.! I'll put this one on my radar.
One of your finest, Ralfy! In USA, juice drink mfrs are not allowed to claim (in product marketing) the product contains 'real juice' unless it is at least 10% juice by volume. I'm all for transparency in a list of ingredients or constituent malts, but what I don't want to see is 'contains 40 year old Glen ...' on the front of the bottle if it is by volume below some threshold (5 percent, say). So if the whisky is 99 percent 3 year old malt and 1 percent 40 year old, the company should have no business trumpeting on about the 40 year old malt the blend contained.
the SWA must have confused themselves with FIFA.
Hi, Ralfy, could you recommend a compass box that would fit a lower budget? Hearing you talk about them made me want to try one of their whiksy's.
+Boris R . . . Asyla and Great King Street.
+ralfystuff hello there I've recently discovered your Channel thank you for your hard work I'm learning tons! I'm 24 and trying to broaden my whiskey knowledge, I'm off to a whiskey tasting in a few weeks and I need to take a bottle along!I'm torn between a springbank 12 year old @ 50.3 or ardbeg uigeadail? Any help would be appreciated thank you very much and keep up the good work!
thanks ralfy, only discovered your vlogs a couple of weeks ago and really enjoying the reviews, and enjoyed the semi rant here. I have left a comment on the Carsebridge 30 yr old review which I hope will be of interest to you
Wow Ralfy you crammed a lot in there, you are right whisky drinkers worldwide should come out in support of, Compass Box. Just going now to check the price of a bottle, thanks for the info Ralfy.
I finally found a bottle yesterday. Damn near gone! Maybe ill save it......maybe. thinkin about getting a not a luxury whisky before its too late.
Seems like a brilliant marketing strategy, this "getting in trouble". Using lawyer tricks against lawyers. You might get a "cease and desist", but the info is out (only geeks buy this), forums are buzzing, critics ranting, the big wigs were provoked to attack the underdog, causing the anoraks to rally. Now you've got people buying bottles on principle, Ralfy supporting it, etc. Clever, no? 😎 I like that and will have to try a bottle. Hopefully SWA is not in on the jig 😁
I.e. remember how Maker's Mark said it would lower abv from 45% to 43% or some such? This caused an uproar, heated vows to boycott it and likely some buying of the old stock. Then they said, OK, we won't do it, our bad. Free publicity.
Ive really enjoyed every compass box whisky. They are one of the very few whiskys that ive seen that clearly say non chill filtered, no colouring added right on the bottle. For that alone it makes me respect them and enjoy their products more
Scary. I am surprised that SWA would send this letter. I found this to be one of the best blended whiskies I had, and am now a big compass box fan! Upon my first tastes, I knew it was special; but then reading the composition I know it was the Coal Ila. Big Coal Ila fan here and this whisky is special. Here in NYC we can order only two bottles at a time. So my order is in. Thanks for the excellent knowledge and review.
+Wade W If it is 7% (highland whisky) ?... then compass box didn't divulge everything now, did they. :)
Thank you for this review!
as always Ralfy you're quite informative and entertaining. What a birthday present.. And to top it off I'm enjoying a few drams of stuff you've inspired me to try. I wonder how much quality spirit sales have increased because of you. I started out with some Old Pulteney 12yo. then jumped on the Elmer T. Lee train. After that I went with some Balblair '02, and then Stranahan's Colorado Whiskey. And at the moment I'm enjoying some Lagavulin 12. I think I'll stop after that. Like you say.....quality not quantity. Cheers!
according to WhiskyBase the Highland malt is (probably) Dailuaine...???
+gerwin pot . . . quite possibly !
Actually it's a marriage of malt whiskies produced at the Clynelish, Teaninich an Dailuaine distilleries, given a second maturation for a minimum of two years in highly active new french oak hybrid barrels
Very interesting review and rant! Brilliant but at £100 a bottle - way out of our league!!
Hi Ralfy
Love your stuff man me and the Mrs been watching your videos for quite some time and enjoy every second :)
Truth to power, Ralfy! Currently enjoying a bottle of Buffalo Trace thanks to your review.
Just got a bottle of this a few days ago along with another bottle of Spice tree (a must have in my liquor cabinet), my first purchase this year. Actually if they opened up shop in Ireland and re-introduced a flavor enhancing element like staves and called it Irish whiskey i'd still buy it. Who cares about the labeling it's the quality and enjoyment it brings.
Not sure if I missed you addressing it, if so I apologize. Which grains is Flaming Heart blended with? By the way, thanks for paving the way by the way Ralfy. I recently decided to join you on the mission to help people make whisky purchases that they will not regret.
+Whisky In The 6 Flaming Heart is a blended malt, so no grain whisky involved in its production.
Almost all Canadian whisky is blended. They are considered "blended" because they have a combination of rye, barely and corn grains. Sometimes wheat as well. Basically all whisky is grain based.
You should put your patreon info in your older videos' descriptions as well.
Ralfy, thank you for yet another brilliant, as well as highly informative, whisky review. Your verdict on Compass Box's "The Lost Blend" release?
Can anyone tell me how this bottle of Flaming Heart I can buy @ $130 US compares to Ardbeg Corryvreckan and Uigeadail I just purchased at $75 and $60 ? Is it twice as good as these?
Ralfy, where did you get the information about the age of the whisky's in this blend. I looked at the fact sheet on the site of Compass Box, but can't find information about the age.
+Eddy De Keyser . . . Compass Box Fact Sheet.
+Eddy De Keyser The information about the age of each component that was originally provided has been removed. It now lists each component but not the ages of each. Because of the letter from the SWA I presume.
Good Afternoon Ralfy!!! I just wanted to check and see if the line of affordable "Weller" products out of the Buffalo Trace distillery are on your review to do list. I'm not speaking of the expensive "William Larue Weller", which is too hard for me to find due to it's value on sites like ebay after it sales out in stores for the year. I'm speaking of the other three more affordable options which are: W.L. Weller Special Reserve, Old Weller Antique 107, W.L. Weller 12 year. I'd love to hear your review on these if possible.
+Delicious Whiskey, Whisky & Barbecue . . . I will look out for these bottlings.
+ralfystuff Thank you Sir!
Great review Ralfy! After reading about this scandal, I sent an email of encouragement to John Glaser and received a nice response from him. Another sign that Compass Box is a company worth supporting! Do you think we will ever see the SWA allow whisky producers give us the transparency that Compass Box tried to do?
+Lloyd Braun . . . not if they can avoid it !
Percentage weighted average age for mixture is 19 years. According to general SWA rules age is 7 years. Whisky doesn't taste like 7 years young whisky. Great story by Ralfy.
Very good review and I’m glad that the marketing angle for Compass Box hasn’t escaped notice here; I’m no more in favour of limiting product information to consumers than I support John Glaser’s “wanting to tell all he can” while simultaneously, and quite intentionally, withholding minimum age information, that no one stops him from sharing, on many of his products’ labels. Although I don’t doubt that he stands for more, rather than less, product information for consumers in the larger sense, if anyone sees a contradiction in Glaser’s current POV, it’s not a trick of the light. The folks at Compass Box are at the forefront of whisky blending, innovation and, although it’s not widely examined, careful positioning as consumer-championing underdogs. Is Compass Box being “picked on” by the SWA? Perhaps, but does that not also serve Compass Box’s marketing/publicity ends as well?
As whisky satirist Whiskysponge has “predicted” for August of this year: “John Glaser feels that Compass Box’s sales are hitting a bit of a slump so creates another illegal label for one of his whiskies and reports himself to the SWA again.”
A key point is that, as a trade association and NOT a regulatory body, the SWA may have legal opinions as an organization, but it doesn’t make legal rulings; its opinions can be legally challenged if Compass Box has the inclination to do so. Spice Tree’s inner staves, for example, were never “banned” - the SWA had no power to do so and the issue never went to court for a ruling; the SWA simply threatened legal action and Compass Box, having used the situation for all the free publicity possible, folded. Similarly, it was the SWA’s legal opinion that the information provided with/on Flaming Heart violates current EU treaty labeling/marketing law - and this is a statement of the position, not a defense of it - and there has been no legal challenge or decision, much less “banning”, in that case either.
The larger issue, that even if the SWA is correct in thinking Compass Box’s moves violate current law, such law still clearly stands against consumer interests and those of whisky in general and should be changed/amended for that reason alone, speaks for itself. Defense of obfuscation cannot serve whisky at large or its consumers.
Great review!!! Thank you!
I immediately checked the price and I felt like an idiot because I'd really love to have one, but I'm uneployed and I can't afford it. Oh well...
It's sad, by your review this blend sounds right up my alley. Ah well... such is life. The time for more expensive bottles will come.
I checked the price of this bottle... 125 euros for a blend?!? Seriously? I paid 64 euros for a 21y Glenfarclas...
+Freddie van ter Beek It is a luxury all-MALT blend.
+Freddie van ter Beek
Its a blended Malt, big difference there. And i dont know Glenfarclas 21, but the 18 and the 25 year old. The 25 year old ist really good, but i was dissapointed by the 18 year old one.
Glenfarclas 21 is excellent, Freddie does this compare?
Is this a blended whisky or is it a blend of single malt whiskys? If I look at www.thewhiskyexchange.com/p/30129/compass-box-flaming-heart-2015-edition they clam that; The fifteenth-anniversary bottling of Flaming Heart is comprised of 38.5% 14-year-old Caol Ila, 27.1% 30-year-old Caol Ila, 24.1% 20-year old Clynelish and 10.3% seven-year-old blended malt from Clynelish, Teaninich and Dailuaine. Where is the grain whisky in that mix? Why did you give it a blend mark instead of a malt mark?
+dalirejo . . . this whisky is a blend of different single malt whiskies, but has no grain whisky in it, so is a malt-blend.
+ralfystuff Thanks for your reply. Im one of your followers for meny years now. I think that I seen most of your 567 whiskyreviews. Keep up the good work. You tought me a lot. :)
hello ralfy...sir can you please orally answer my 2 questipns in your next review if you cant have a full episode on that..iv written the questions unde the re review of old pltney17...(relating to way of using and benifit of using dark chocolate,coffee anđ scotch together as suggested by richard paterson repeatedly......and abput cask strenhths and water-what strength should they be ideally reduced to on an average?38(as suggested by paterson)or 46 or should keep it above 50?because otherwise wouldnt the extra flavours offered by cask strenhths be lost and wouldnt it become similar to the normal version?example-laphroaig 10 and cask strength
+Sehraj Singh Virk . . . for me strength is reduced on average to 33% vol for any whisky with some cool water, whisky pairing with coffee and chocolate is fun and optional and can enhance, or diminish a whisky. All whiskies are best stored in their bottles neat, and water only added when put into a glass for drinking, good luck !
+ralfystuff..thanx a lot sir...last question(explanatory of earlier): i mean if laphroaig 10yrs and laphroaig 10 cask strength both are reduced to 33%in glass ofcourse,will there be any difference in taste and flavour? (because they say that laphroaig10=laphroaig10 cask strength+water)
yes, you will notice a difference due to original bottle strength, this will vary.
Wonderful review.I hope your comments change the SWA's policy.
brand new subscriber here, i enjoy your reviews.
you have my support ralfy!!!
is that Flaming Hert a Liter botle...sur luks lyk it frm here??
+Radio Laboratory . . . no, just a large glass lump !
$230 a bottle for Flaming Heart here in OZ ... flamin expensive if you ask me! I shant be partaking but as to everything else ... no problem here. In fact I'll stick to Great King Street from Compass Box instead.
I have arrived to watch this video 4 minutes after it was released..
Ralfy, why haven't you reviewed any McClellands scotch? I see they're distilled by bowmore and come in a highland, Speyside and Islay variety. It also looks to be the cheapest of any whiskey as well.
+kubz123 . . . they are all NAS single malts, so no reviews planned.
+ralfystuff I see. So only aged whiskys then.
. . . yes, for the moment due to non-aged malts being immature and expensive.
Steven Moffat should write you and your sonic universal teaspoon into an episode, your malty magnificence.
Great review.
hello ralfy, couldn´t compass box hide their information in a kind of cryptic riddle in the future ?
for example 75ci20/20clsh20/5glfrcs8 and so on. all maltheads would be able to read the "hidden"information and the SWA
had no reason to complain because officially the numbers and letters didn´t mean anything.
(I hope you understand my idea despite my humble english!)
+Rainer Brunn . . . rather inspired idea !
Maker's Mark uses inner staves to make their Maker's 46, and it works well for Maker's 46 is top notch bourbon.
Why would the SWA have a problem with transparency in this case? I can why another company might register a complaint but I don't understand why the SWA would uphold it.
+Bob Jones . . . Industry politics.
so much for your statement not long so ago about reviewing whisky we can all afford. I would sooner chew my fingers off than pay £100 for a bottle of whisky. most I would pay is £50
+Russ Barrack He didn't say he would *only* review inexpensive bottles. I won't spend that on a bottle, either, but I still like to hear about it.
+Russ Barrack Mastofmalt sell whiskies by the dram so you don't have to buy a whole bottle if you want to try it.
Not cheap for a blended malt btw (British tax will be deducted if you order it from abroad, then your own country's alcohol tax will be added - so it'll be slightly cheaper). UKP 99.95!
What a great example on why we should never put too much weight on age statements! Oh, wait, I forgot where I was.
RALFY please get 1080p, it's just how the times are.
+Tony . . . unfortunately half of viewers are on restricted internet access and higher definition would take too long to load and/or play on mobiles. I will review definition at some point in the future.
Part of me -- let's be realistic, most of me -- wishes Compass Box would just throw a middle finger at the SWA and do whatever the hell they want and simply not call it "Scotch." I'd gladly spend 20% more for an innovative, non-compromising blender/independent bottler instead of some company simply catering to the unreasonable whims of the SWA.
Does Flaming Heart have an age statement on it? you said it's a 15th year anniversary bottling, does that mean 15 year old??
+HillaToppa 90'z Its the 15years of bottling, not maturation.
+SeymourSkinner Ah ok the reason i was wondering is Ralfy said he wasnt going to be reviewing any non age statement whiskies this year. I think he must have made the exception for Flaming Heart hehe
+HillaToppa 90'z . . .no reviews planned for NAS SINGLE MALTS only, and Irish whiskey.
+ralfystuff Ah no worries Ralfy thanks for clearing that up.
Damn...
+Ralfystuff the 7 year old is a combination of Clynelish, Teaninich and Dailuaine. It's in the fine print at the bottom of this link: i.imgur.com/ribn9G4.jpg
Every NAS bottling is naughty. Compass Box should be celebrated by SWA, not disciplined.
Ralfy how about a video on making GIN from a run of the mill Vodka. Juniper berries are cheap as chips on Amazon.
could be enlightening.
Ralfy - Another site claims 10.3% 7 year old Teaninich, could that be the correct Highland?
Don't be distracted by the apparent underhandedness of the informer. The Scotch Whisky Association legal team is a five-lawyer team who would know perfectly well the stance adopted by Compass Box in their promotions. They are charged with enforcing clause 10.1 of the Scotch Whisky Regulations (2009): "The SWR maintain the longstanding rule regarding the use of age statements, namely that the only age which may be stated in the labelling, packaging or advertising of a Scotch Whisky is the age of the youngest Scotch Whisky in the product." This rule has a wide-ranging beneficial effect against deceptive advertising. The challenge is to write a nuance into the regulation, perhaps to allow the blending information in label's fine print, but not as a bold age-statement number on the big front of the label.
+David G Anderson . . . adding a nuanced practicality to the regulations would be a good idea, to benefit everybody.
+David G Anderson The information was NOT on the label as far as I'm informed, but on an additional fact sheet.
I think the SWA should enforce the regulation when it comes to the label and
the outer box/tube.
Additional facts regarding the age of the content in booklets, neck-hangers or on-line should be allowed. It should be simple to safeguard against misuse with the enforcement of principles like the following.
1. As a minimum age and percentage of content must be listed for all components
involved in the blend or the vat.
2. The listing must always be in ascending order with regard to age to ensure that the
first listed component is equal to the relevant age statement
3. All components should be listed in an equal manner. No particular component
and it's age must be graphically or otherwise emphasized.
4. All listed components must hold exactly the same type of information
The true reason for the SWA action is, in my opinion, to protect the increased use of NAS, as Compass Box initiative could raise inconvenient questions as to why other producers don’t reveal the same information. This would make it harder for them to gradually lower the average age and quality of their NAS bottlings in case they feel a need to do so.
+Karsten Radant Now don't be mixin' yer "musts" and "mays."
David G Anderson Noted! (-;
The Fourth Annual Whiskey Obsession Festival will be held March 30 to April 1, 2016 in Sarasota, Florida. Join dozens of master distillers and professional brand ambassadors as they present over 200 whiskies from around the world.
Video: ua-cam.com/video/effaR6VmB6g/v-deo.html.
Website with ticket info here: whiskeyobsessionfestival.com/tickets/
Here's another vote for transparency and for the customer knowing what's in the bottle.
And Flaming Heart is a terrific whisky.
Incidentally, one producer, Tomatin, agree:
www.tomatin.com/blog/2015/11/20/greater-transparency-required?
No offense, but I prefer the old set arrangement. This one's too busy on one side, then there's only that scabrous wall to your left. Sorry ;)
Anyhoo, nice review and rant.
One of the reasons I'm drinking rum and cognacs more and more and scotch less and less
I agree with your laissez faire attitude to what a producer can sell and a customer can buy, but it is not just whisky. The SWA is just an extension of over regulation and interference over everything we do.
Back to mine for some bendy bananas?
Thank you for the review.You've lost a lot of weight,unless your new coat is extremely oversized.Makes you look much younger.
Best Wishes Pete.
the SWA is doing this under duress because of EU law..shocking!
You be a Fan of Dr. Who?☺
+Slobodan Kecenovic . . . who ?
+ralfystuff The Black Silver Robot on your Cupboard in the Background.But i believe you take me for a ride😊
+Slobodan Kecenovic P.s. Dr.Who is a british Sience Fiction serial.
The absurdity of the SWA decisions is most likely based on the fact that the Council for the SWA is mostly made up of members from various multi-national companies. These are people who most likely want less transparency in the industry instead of more. So when Compass Box comes along with a good idea, it immediately threatens the status quo. (As Ralfy would say, that's just an opinion.)
how can 14 year old whisky be only 38.5%?
That's not the abv, it's the percentage of the malt blend that 14yo Caol Ila makes up.
+chrish12345 I believe what Ralfy is saying is that 38.5% percent of the blend is 14yo Caol Ila (the rest being comprised of the stated %'ages of 30yo Caol Ila, 20yo Clynelish, and and 7yo "Highland" malt. The 38.5% is not ABV but proportion.
no you're right I shall go off and spank myself
i think the decision to ban inner staves was right. think about it for a second. what would be next 20 years down the line after beefing up casks becomes insufficient (in their opinion)? maybe some cherry syrup? or liquid honey and spices in the cask for some "extra flavour"? if i would want that i would buy Southern Comfort instead of proper Whisky. if you support inner staves then you can just aswell support NAS and recasking of "single casks".
"hey look we don't need age, we got inner staves". you think the industry wouldn't exploit it if the SWA allowed inner staves?
inner staves would be a carte blanche for NAS.
+Antoine M -- That's ridiculous. Aside from the fact that NAS already exists, you are essentially saying that if inner staves shouldn't be banned then nothing else (cherry syrup, etc) can be banned either. Sound regulation is about making logical distinctions. Inner staves are not a flavouring additive.
+Richard Bostan sure NAS already exists, but the main excuse for NAS is to divert attention from age and directing it towards some "very special" wood technology and of course a romantic gaelic name. if you add inner staves to the mix then you have an extra card to play for NAS. it's a trend that needs to be halted or at least slowed down, not accelerated by giving a madman another knife. plus, how many disitllers/blend companies are as honest as Compass Box to mention it on their label, when half the industry is already on the NAS band wagon? the cherry syrup example was more of an exaggeration.
+Antoine M -- I haven't heard of any attempt to justify NAS scotch by referencing "wood technology." (That's an American thing, with many craft distillers in the US trying to mature whisky quickly enough to sell it after a year or two in oak.) We all know that NAS scotch is a product of shortages of fully-aged stocks at distilleries in Scotland, but the justification offered by the scotch distillers (whether sincere or not) is that ages are less important than flavour profiles, and if they can achieve the flavour profile they want with younger whisky they shouldn't be held hostage by a need to meet a certain minimum age. Nothing about wood.
+Antoine M . . . true but the key to use is a well defined and binding regulation of use.
I can nae abide sich a scandal...
4th!
+J Bennison verified 4th ;))
that hat smells
First
Nose: softly but intensely peated, oranges, lemon grass Nose (with water): fresh banana, apricot, cinnamon, cumin, honey, vanilla, spicy peated citrus, lemongrass Mouth (with water): fresh fruit, peat, oak, rich grain, lemon oil, fresh brewed tea
Mark: 91