Compass Box 'Ethereal' - La Maison du Whisky's 65th Anniversary Blended Malt 49%abv 30ml

Compass box really pulls out all the stops for La Maison du Whisky's 65th Anniversary. Awesome blended malt. 

Review by Serge Valentin

Compass Box 'Ethereal' (49%, for La Maison du Whisky's 65th Anniversary, blended malt, 2430 bottles, 2021) 
Younger malt 17 and older malt 26 yo. In Scotch you'd say this is a 17, in brandy a 20.5 ((17+26)/2), and in rum a 41 years old (17+26). Joking – quite. Colour: straw. Nose: classic Compass Box, really, fresh and coastal. Lemons, limes, seawater, oysters, vanilla, sunflower oil, camphor. I know this is a new bottling but I do have the impression that I've tried this before, and several times. Lemon tarte with meringue, sprinkled with peated whisky and a little mezcal. Mouth: rather on tart and bitterish fruits for starters, then on seawater, just lemons, kippers, cough syrup, more mezcal, olive oil, a little tar, smoked fish and a touch of high-concentration manuka honey. Finish: when smoky bitterness is an asset. Fernet Branca, Underberg, a feeling of slate, oysters, bitter oranges, manzanilla… Comments: let's forget that this is 'just a blend' and do it justice. The 49% vol. work really well, won't they become the new 46?
SGP:565 - 90 points.