WORLD WHISKY AWARDS FOR COMPASS BOX

June 2009

The Compass Box Whisky Company has excelled at the World Whiskies Awards 2009, with Hedonism named the World's Best Grain Whisky and The Peat Monster the World's Best Scotch Vatted Malt Whisky.

The awards are further recognition of the quality of Scotch released by this boutique whisky producer started by maverick 40-something John Glaser in 2000.

Hedonism, which was also named the World's Best Grain Whisky in 2008, is unusual in the Scotch whisky world - a 100% grain whisky.

The popular big brands of Scotch are typically blends of both grain and malt whisky, but Compass Box believes that pure grain whisky is the little-known treasure of the Scotch whisky industry.

For Hedonism it searches for casks that are usually over 20 years old, and the result is a rich, sweet, alluring whisky, redolent of vanilla, cream and coconut.

The Peat Monster is a Scotch Malt Whisky for real "Peat Heads", and for lovers of complex, multilayered whiskies. It is loaded with flavor including bacon-fat smokiness, peat and hints of fruit and spice.

Smoky and peaty single malts are sourced from the Scottish island of Islay. To create a balance of richness and subtle sweetness, these are blended with old casks of single malt from Ardmore on the Scottish mainland. All of the whiskies are aged in American oak for between 10 and 16 years.

Glaser developed a passion for whisky while working for one of the world's leading producers. With the birth of Compass Box he realised a dream of starting his own company, and began blending whiskies in his kitchen.

Compass Box has no distillery; instead the company sources quality single malt whiskies from several distilleries. The Compass Box secret lies in the blending and additional barrel maturation.

Glaser's unusual techniques have sometimes drawn criticism from traditionalists and the guardians of the industry even went so far as to outlaw one of his whiskies - in 2005 Compass Box released Spiced Tree which had been aged in Bourbon barrels for at least 10 years and finished in New French oak barrels for a further two years.

Jim Murray's Whisky Bible praised Spiced Tree, but the Scotch Whisky Association threatened legal action saying this innovative method of wood maturation had no place in the whisky industry. Glaser decided to discontinue Spice Tree.

Compass Box whiskies are imported into South Africa by Cape Town-based Liquidity and are available countrywide. Hedonism sells for about R780 (750ml bottle) and The Peat Monster for about R460 (750ml bottle). Oak Cross is also available.

Liquidity, purveyors of premium and super-premium wines and spirits, represent Compass Box Scotch whiskies, Taittinger Champagne, Patrón Tequila, De Toren Private Cellar and Jean Daneel wines, Buffalo Trace American whiskies, Collective São Gabriel luxury beers and Germana Cachaça. Visit www.liq.co.za or call (021) 905 9066.

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