Exclusive: Limited edition ‘Secrets of Smoke’ is a sweet peat release from Compass Box in time for Christmas
Secrets of Smoke: ‘decoding the layers of flavour’
Today, renowned Scotch Whiskymakers, Compass Box announce its latest limited edition, Secrets of Smoke, a unique whisky which unveils the secret sweetness behind peated malts
Compass Box are known for their experimental blending techniques and exploring unconventional casks to create complex and layered flavours. Their flagship product Hedonism, is one of the most widely respected blended grain whiskies. So it’s with great interest that they launch Secrets of Smoke – their latest limited edition release that claims to “showcase the curiously sweet layers tucked away within peated whiskies” and “decode the layers of flavour, not often associated with peated Scotch whiskies.”
Peaty whiskies sometimes suffer from the smothering of the finer flavours created by the barley, water and yeast that goes into the creation of the product. And even the flavour that soaks out of years maturing in a cask can be drowned out with overly heavy peaty notes. So, inviting whisky lovers to “taste beyond the smoke screen and discover the secret world of sweetness within the smoke,” is an intriguing notion. Is a sweet and peaty whisky – two opposite ends of the Scotch whisky spectrum – not an oxymoron?
“There is actually a lot of sweetness inherent in some smoky whiskies, but they are often overshadowed by the heavy peat and smoke,” explains Compass Box Marketing Director, Racheal Vaughan Jones. “Our Core Collection whisky, The Peat Monster, does display some of this subtle sweetness but for Secrets of Smoke, we wanted to experiment with pushing this to the extreme and to show whisky drinkers that smoke really can do a marvellous dance with sweetness,” she says.
“We’ve taken peated whiskies that do lean on the sweeter side (for example Caol Ila) and used sherry and red wine casks to further mature them. This is what uncovers those lovely sweet, honeyed notes,” says Vaughan Jones.
The science behind Secrets of Smoke lies in the use of Palo Cortado sherry-seasoned casks, second-fill Spanish red wine casks, and first-fill Marsala casks. This process reveals the fruity, creamy, and floral characteristics associated with peated malts.
‘Don’t be fooled – this is indeed a smoky whisky, but we’ve also managed to tease out beautiful notes of toffee apple and flapjack that people may find quite surprising’
“The sweetness is revealed through the palate – don’t be fooled – this is indeed a smoky whisky, but we’ve also managed to tease out beautiful notes of toffee apple and flapjack that people may find quite surprising and, hopefully, delicious. For us, this whisky was all about the unexpected,” she says.
Compass Box have managed to create a niche in the market, with their experimental blending of flavours and maturing in unique casks. This approach has seen the London-based company draw in a legion fans from around the world. And this release looks to be repeating the successful model.
“Our limited editions allow us to spread our creative wings and concoct one-off expressions with unique recipes,” says Lead Whiskymaker James Saxon. “With Secrets of Smoke, we wanted to build on the results of some of our cask experiments and enhance the unexpected sweetness of peated malts.”
The bottle itself is adorned with what is described as “a mysteriously dark background with holographic foils representing the sweet flavours of the blend. Each glimpse at the bottle uncovers another layer of visual enigmas, making each Secrets of Smoke experience full of surprises.”
“Working with our good friends at Stranger & Stranger, we are able to reveal on the label how flavours of fruit or honey or flowers emerge from behind the smoke screen,” says Saxon. The bottle certainly is in keeping with many other Compass Box bottles that focus on art and the design to ensure that collectors can appreciated not just the liquid inside but the product on the shelf too.
Secrets of Smoke has hints of honey, buttery pears, and caramel, with coastal smoky undertones and fresh summer fruits before the citrusy taste slowly gives way to a long, chocolatey, and peaty finish. And with an early winter release, sherry cask profile and that sweet peaty flavour it sounds as it if it was made specifically for sharing around a Christmas fire during the upcoming festive season.
“We do think about when our whiskies might be enjoyed,” explains Vaughan Jones. “I will personally be enjoying this on New Year’s Eve, with friends, alongside a bountiful charcuterie board – there’s something about the way the fatty meats coat the mouth that brings out undiscovered layers of Secrets of Smoke,” she says.
With only 9,792 bottles available worldwide, this is certainly one we are eager to share over the Christmas table.
Barley readers are able to get their hands on a bottle of Secrets of Smoke at compassboxwhisky.com from November 14.
