The Myths and Legends series from Compass Box was created to challenge some myths and legends about Scotch whisky which became unchallenged facts by the drinkers. The first member in this series, Myths & Legends I, was matured in first-fill bourbon barrels and re-charred American oak barrels, to debunk the myth that a whisky’s region dictates its flavor – it’s all about the casks.
It was blended from a mix of 2 casks parcels from Balblair Distillery. One from 1997 and the other from 2003 (At least according to the whiskybase.com page), so based on this info, it’s in fact a 16 Year Old (or so) single malt from Balblair, and whenever it’s not a single cask whisky, blending is a crucial part in building the whisky characteristic.
Compass Box Myths and Legends I (46%, £130/€148.90/$139.99)
Nose: Apples bowl, green apples peels, pears, even more apples, honey, pastries (apples butter pastries), apple blossoms, meadow, floral perfume tinge, apples compote, yeah I think it’s quite clear there’s a dominating fruit here… Continue reading
Nose: Soft and balanced, baked pears, fruity and chocolaty. Then medium aged soft leather and then lots of toffee! And then cinnamon and nutmeg. Complex and nice, just maybe a bit too relaxed and laid back? 
Nose: Not as enticing as the 15 Year Old, at least not at first where there was less sherry finish impact. Sour fruitiness, polished wood, again some soursweet stone fruit and eventually red berries. 
Nose: Not as creamy as the 12 Year Old as the sherry finish must have mitigate some of it, but it’s still soft with sweet fruit marmalade, dried papaya, sweet sour fruitiness and milk chocolate. Gets better and fruitier with time – very enticing. 
Nose: Soft, sweet, malty with brioche and buttery croissant, vanilla, pears, apples. Very creamy!, Then a bit of lemon peels marmalade. After a few minutes it’s becoming less creamy and rounded and gains some sharpness and spiciness with gentle white pepper. 
Please tell us a bit about yourself.
Nose: hmm, lovely nose – lots of fruits and sherry notes which throws me at thinking of a summer evening with cool breeze. very malty, sweet freshness, some vanilla and oak hides in there as well.
Nose
Nose: Comparing to the 1997 above, much more restrained – less fruity and heavier. The Vanilla and honey notes shows some muscle here. nail varnish, some sherry-like notes of sultanas and red berries, cinnamon, peat that crawls to the front over time
Nose: Starts with strong varnish and wax notes, then malty, zesty spices, old dusty wood. Some sherry notes dropped here and there like lightly dripping rain. Spices and fruity. After a while tobacco too, old leather, cocoa and some background light peat. then after another a minute or two, some bananas notes. it’s crazy stuff!
Whisky Gospel 