🥃 Whisky Auctioneer

https://whiskylovingpianist.wordpress.com/2026/01/09/bwc-2025-billy-abbott/ With the correct accents, Brûlée Royale is a test and a half for one’s search bar. N: Containing Benrinnes, Clynelish, Speyburn, and [0.5%] Ardbeg, this is a fruity one with sour toffee apple to counter. Demonstrating bundles of spriteliness, there’s more of a balance than the regal-dessert name might suggest. T: Perhaps indicating more maturity [in the mix: CB fact sheet] to taste, a creamy stewed apple delivery keeps the palate entertained. F: A short finish further demonstrates this one’s youthful side. C: One that will always be referred to as the Creme Brulee release [whether CB likes it or not], this motivatingly youthful blended malt comes in at an ask [TWE: £106] – much to the bewilderment of the room – but that won’t deter the CB faithful.

This Blended Malt is very nice, sweet with wax, honey, sweet fruit, a bit of oak, dark chocolate, pleasantly warming with well-hidden alcohol.

The name says it all. The vanilla cream with caramel is clearly present on the nose. The palate adds further spice. Overall, another solid bottling. Eye The amber-colored liquid moves softly and easily. A thick, almost oily layer remains on the glass wall. Oily streaks, some fine, some thick, form.

Nose Mild and inviting. Right from the start, bright fruits rise up, especially pear. Ripe, juicy. Underneath lies a pleasant waxy note that gives the whole thing structure. A hint of ginger provides a delicate spiciness, freshly peeled, slightly lemony. The impression it gives its name is indeed there: crème brûlée, warm, with a caramelized sugar crust. Add to that powdered sugar, which settles like a fine veil over the aromas. A gentle smokiness drifts through the background. The fruit remains present. Pears, perhaps a touch of apple, along with a slightly perfumed note reminiscent of blossom honey. With a few drops of water, the picture becomes rounder and sweeter. The dessert aspect gains prominence. The smoke remains politely in the background. The taste Soft and creamy on the palate. The initial taste is pleasantly smooth. Malt and barley are clearly present, almost like fresh dough or warm rye bread. A gentle peppery note emerges, accompanied by a subtle herbal edge. A light acidity provides freshness and keeps the sweetness in check. Waxy notes add structure. Peeled ginger is also present, spicy and slightly hot. In the mid-palate, hay and dry meadow herbs appear. Honey coats the palate, binding everything together. The texture remains creamy, almost dessert-like. With water, the whisky becomes more harmonious. The spice integrates better. A hint of smoke is now also noticeable on the breath. Conclusion Very tasty and charming, but at that price even the caramelized sugar layer puts a bit of a strain on the budget.

A very successful blended malt, which revokes my trust in Compass Box after a few years of mediocre releases. The name on the bottle fully matches with the character of the liquid. Creamy and citrus notes define the overal impression, while light peat component provides extra depth to the whisky. Having tasted it semi-blindly I would guess predominantly ex-bourbon casks with weighted average age of 14-17 years. The peated part seems to cobtribute max 5% of volume. Let's see what fact sheet says: 53,3% Benrinnes 1st fill bourbon barrels 17yo 39% Clynelish 2nd fill new american oak barrels 7yo 7,2% Speyburn refill american oak hogshead 24yo 0,5% Ardbeg recharred american oak barrel 21yo Weighted average age is 13,6 years - my blind guess was very close. And the type of the casks is obvious as well. Remarkably, I was able to taste this 0,5% of peated Islay malt. The reasonable price should be €110-115 in my opinion.

Incredible nose, Clynelish meets Speyside fruit basket. But unfortunately, it falls off massively on the palate, with too much oak spice bordering on bitterness.

Vanilla, toffee, caramel. An incredibly long and warming finish.

Tasting am: 14.11.2025 Preis: 128 €