So Far, So Good – Compass Box Orchard House

I know it is Dry January, but here is a drink I already mixed up in December. On top of that, this is a great drink using Scotch whisky and a variation of another drink I made last year.

Compass Box only use malt whiskies for their Orchard House blend. First Fill Bourbon Barrel whisky from the Clynelish Distillery makes up the most part (37 %). Furthermore, 39,1 % come from the Linkwood Distillery while Benrinnes malt contributes 12,6 %. 6,6 % come from a revatted Oloroso Sherry-Seasoned butt distilled at a distillery near Aberlour. The rest of the blend is equally comprised of malt from Coal Ila and Compass Box’s Highland Blend Malt from custom French oak barrels with a heavy toast.

Red apples and a lot more

Indeed, the Compass Box Orchard House starts off with very fruity notes. Next, you get sweet malt notes with just a touch of smoke. Soon afterwards the taste takes a more spicy turn. Just before it changes into perfumed notes reminded me of candied violets. I guess this already shows how complex the dram is. I enjoyed the Orchard House rather much.

A drink inspired by Jazz

After our visit to Amor Y Amargo last Summer, I recreated a drink I called the “Ad Libitum”. The drink with the Orchard House now is a variation of that. However, I replaced the Cynar with Sfumato Rhabarero and the rhubarb bitters with cherry and pinot noir bitters. Obviously, I named the drink after a song by Duke Ellington, too.

Surprisingly, the “So Far, So Good” initially reminded me of a Manhattan. However, the Scotch and blueberry notes shine through pretty quick. On top of that, the two Amaros work together exceptionally well. The Sfumato adds the right amount of bitterness and the Amaro di Torino some herbal notes.

*The fact that I received a product reviewed in this article for free, did not – in any way – influence the rating of said product. The blended malt was provided by Kirsch Whisky.