Reviews #88 & #89: Cutty Sark Prohibition Blend and Compass Box The Lost Blend.

I paired these two together because of two things they are both "rediscovered blends going back to the company's roots." Cutty Sark has a story about this is how their whisky tasted that they shipped over to the US. Compass Box has a story about disco'ing the Lost Blend because they couldn't get the same malts. I really don't care about the marketing story behind whisky, but I thought it was funny I found two with this rediscovered recipe.

Cutty Sark Prohibition Blend

Non Regional - NAS- Chill-Filter - e150- $30 - 50%

Color - Amber

Nose - Apples, honey, smoke, fabric softener

Taste - Candied and stewed fruit, pears, honey,

Finish - Medium - Honey, figs, toffee, smoke

Overall - 7 - This bats above its weight as far as price goes. This is much better than original Cutty. I would compare it to the animal blends (sheep/monkey) as far as quality. As far as taste, I would say this flavor profile is very close to Johnnie Black but at 50% feels much less flimsy in the mouth. I usually keep an inexpensive blend around for guests/cocktails/I want scotch but ate a garlicky dinner and this has replaced Johnnie Black for me.

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Compass Box Lost Blend

Non Regional - NAS- NCF - NCA- Sample ($100 at the local) - 46%

Color - Yellow Gold

Nose - Floral shop, vanilla, pear, smoke, a pinch of sweetness and wax that lies beneath

Taste - Peach, wax, smoke

Finish - Medium - Pears, vanilla and Caol Ila smoke

Overall - 5.5 - This is not the most complex blend - white fruit, wax, smoke - but it works very well. The scotch is balanced and a nice smooth drink. This really is a good showcase of blending very different elements and having them marry. I am starting to think that the wax scotch taste just isn't for me. While I appreciate what this blend is doing and the balance achieved, it is not enough my style for me to buy a bottle.

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Rating system is price influenced as it is based on my shopping decisions when buying a bottle.

10 Best in Show

9 Great Dram for Special Occasions

8 Worthy of consistent spot in my collection

7 Worth picking up a bottle if in the mood

6 I would buy a bottle if it went on sale

5 I would drink it happily if offered

4 I would drink it if offered on the rocks

3 Maybe some soda will make this potable

2 I'll Pass

1 Toilet cleaner

Inclusive Ratings

Overall 6.1

Standard Deviation 0.92

Skew 0.66

Kurtosis -0.53