Compass Box LMDW Artist 11 Pentalogy 'Fortitude' Blended Malt 52.5%ABV 30ml
Compass Box LMDW Artist 11 Pentalogy 'Fortitude' Blended Malt 52.5%ABV 30ml
Part of LMDW ARTIST #11 - a range of whiskies released annually adorned with commissioned artworks and containing the finest whiskies. The artworks adorning the five bottles in this set were created by surrealist artist Charlotte Massip. She draws inspiration from the anatomic drawings of Vesalius, the machines of Leonardo da Vinci, and Dürer’s engravings.
This set is called Pentalogy was the first to be exclusively blends comprising of blended whisky, blended grain and blended malts to showcase different styles of blends. The 5 blends are called - Confidence, Fortitude, Generosity, Wisdom and Wonder.
This one is Fortitude - Limited Edition of 1,074 bottles
Produced from a Lowland single grain, a Speyside single malt, a Highland blended malt and a blended malt dubbed “No Name”, Fortitude proudly proclaims its unmistakable parallels with an Islay single malt. Intensely smoky, its palette of flavours and aromas reveals a peat with multiple faces that nonetheless remains dressed from head to toe in sheer elegance.
WhiskyFun review Serge Valentin
Compass Box 'Fortitude' (52.5%, La Maison du Whisky, blended Scotch, Artist #11, Pentalogy, 1074 bottles, 2021)
A brand new, well, first, an independently bottled independent blended Scotch whisky. Indeed, it is not a malt, my mistake. Colour: white wine. Nose: very smoky, and I cannot not think of those older White Horses or even Mackie's Malt-Mill-fuelled blends. You would almost believe the blender here has been trying to replicate that ancient style. I'm happy to report that he rather succeeded, as this is pretty sooty, with some coal, smoked meats, creosote, kippers, then a little curry and old flowers in a vase, mustard, dry Madeira… With water: smoked salmon, carbon paper, pencil eraser and mercurochrome. Mouth (neat): really, an old White Horse! The grains don't feel too much I have to say. Citrons, angelica, bitters, mustard, liquorice wood, pine resin… With water: even more on a good old old-school smoky blend. B.r.a.v.o. Finish: medium, even sootier, a wee tad metallic… Exactly like an old smoky blend indeed (belabouring my point, I know). Comments: I'll dare asking, isn't there some Lagavulin in there? Oh and would it be possible to relaunch some kinds of Kork'N'Seal caps while being at it?
SGP:454 - 88 points.