Compass Box Hedonism Blended Grain Whisky Review
In-Depth Review
The second whisky in my “Blender’s Collection” sample pack from Compass Box is the most expensive. With an MSRP of over $100, Compass Box Hedonism has been the flagship blended grain whisky from Compass Box for years. Garnering excellent reviews since its introduction, Hedonism has been the gateway for many a whisky drinker into the world of blended grain whiskies. Unfortunately, in 2023 Compass Box announced that the whisky stocks that go into Hedonism have dwindled and Hedonism will now shift to being a limited annual release. Many lamented the sad news, but luckily bottles still remain on the shelf today, and are included in these “Blender’s Collection” packs as 50ml samples.
Compass Box Hedonism is a blended grain whisky made up of whiskies hailing from Port Dundas, Girvan, Cameronbridge, and North British distilleries. It’s bottled at 43% ABV with without chill-filtration. It features natural color and an MSRP of around $110. Is it worth picking up a bottle while you still can? Let’s dive in and find out.
Age: Non-Age Stated
ABV: 43%
Cask:
MSRP: $110
Distillery Name: Compass Box
Review Date: 1/14/24
Color: Straw
Nose: The nose starts off with pops of bubblegum, confectioners’ sugar, green apple and fresh cut melon. It leans toward the lighter side, with dollops of sweetness throughout. As it settles in the glass, more yellow cake vanilla, cornbread graininess, green tea, and a dark chocolate covered almonds. There are layers present – but it struggles to keep my attention.
Palate: The palate brings in more fruit and a strong walnut banana bread note. There are classic grain whisky notes of buttercream, milk chocolate, and coconut jumping out but is complimented nicely with a sweet syrupy mouthfeel that punches above its 43% ABV. The palate leans heavily on these bright, light sweet notes – but is missing any of the dark, underlying notes that you’d expect from a well-aged grain spirit.
Finish: Short finish with more candied fruit, and a lingering spice that sticks to the tip of the tongue. The finish does fall off quickly and I needed to keep sipping to build any kind of lasting heat.
Final Thoughts: Spending time with a recent bottle of Compass Box Hedonism leaves me confused. For years, reviews raved about the gorgeous character of this whisky. Some may have even used it as the flagship for the upcoming scotch grain whisky revolution. But after tasting this in 2024, I am left a bit disappointed. The whisky isn’t bad at all – but it feels like its missing something. Like a song with all treble and no bass, the flavors here fall off quickly and leave a fleeting finish. It’s a whisky that struggles to justify its price when entry level single malts can provide an even more interesting experience for less than half of the MSRP. Perhaps removing it from the core lineup will allow Compass Box to return Hedonism back to the great whisky it once was.
