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Compass Box
Whisky Co. helps usher in new era in
Scotch Whisky by taking the lead in
education around new whisky laws and
releasing valedictory Last Vatted Malt
limited edition.
 Compass
Box Whisky Co. is to take a lead in the
educational drive around the new laws on
Scotch whisky that come into force from
Wednesday 23rd November 2011.
To mark the occasion, Compass Box will
release a limited edition bottling, the
Last Vatted Malt, made from a marriage
of fine, old single malt whiskies from
Islay and Speyside distilleries, that
will be the last whisky to be labelled
legally as a Vatted Malt.
Compass Box innovative Whiskymaker John
Glaser, said:
"The Last Vatted Malt is a testament to
the high merit of blending single
malts—to create a whisky flavour profile
that no single distillery can produce.
This whisky combines intense aromas and
flavours of dried fruits and maltiness
underscored by a subtle, sweet
smokiness, all robed in the revealing
signs of whiskies of antiquity. It is
composed of two single malts:
approximately 22% of the recipe is
whisky distilled at the younger of the
two distilleries in the village of
Aberlour in 1974 (36 years-old), aged in
a first fill sherry butt. The balance is
from the famed distillery in the village
of Port Askaig on Islay, made in 1984
(26 years-old), aged in an American oak
hogshead."
As Compass Box founder and whiskymaker
John Glaser explains: "At midnight on
November 22nd, 2011, an era ends. After
that point, it will be illegal for whiskymakers
to use the term Vatted Malt to describe
a Scotch whisky made from the
combination of two or more single malts.
From 23rd November 2011, this style of
whisky will by law have to be labelled
as a Blended Malt Scotch Whisky. Vatted
Malt is a term that has been in use
since at least the 19th century. It
represents a style of whisky in which
Compass Box specialise, so it has
special meaning for us. Therefore we
have decided to take a lead in the
education of whisky drinkers about the
new legal definitions of the 5 styles of
Scotch whisky. We feel that this is an
important change to the law that needs
to be explained to whisky lovers. As the
new laws come into effect, we want to
take this opportunity to educate, to
look to the future and to help the
industry as a whole."
The new legislation is all encompassing
and was introduced by the UK Parliament
as The Scotch Whisky Regulations in
2009. However, the five new legal
definitions of Scotch whisky styles, as
well as some other areas, will become
enforceable by law from 23rd November
2011. The new definitions will be:
Blended Scotch Whisky:
A blend of one or
more Single Malt Scotch Whiskies with
one or more Single Grain Scotch
Whiskies.
Blended Malt Scotch Whisky:
A blend of
two or more Single Malt Scotch Whiskies
that have been distilled at more than
one distillery. (previously known as
Vatted Malt or Pure Malt Scotch Whisky)
Blended Grain Scotch Whisky:
A blend of
two or more Single Grain Scotch Whiskies
that have been distilled at more than
one distillery. (previously known as
Vatted Grain Scotch Whisky)
Single Malt Scotch Whisky:
A Scotch
Whisky that has been distilled in pot
stills in one or more batches at a
single distillery from water and malted
barley, without the addition of any
other cereals.
Single Grain Scotch Whisky:
a Scotch
Whisky that has been distilled at a
single distillery except Single Malt
Scotch Whisky or a Blended Scotch
Whisky.
Full details can be read here: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2009/2890/introduction/made
Commemorating this transition into a new
era, The Last Vatted Malt Limited
Edition from Compass Box will be on sale
from 23rd November 2011 onwards at
www.compassboxwhisky.com and from whisky
retailers. It will be bottled at cask
strength, and each bottle will be
personally signed by John Glaser. Only
1323 bottles will be produced. The
recommended retail price will be £175.00
per 70cl bottle.
Compass Box will organise a number of
activities through November to help
promote awareness of the new laws,
supported by a programme of
communication on Facebook, Twitter and
by email. These will include:
- A Twitter Q&A with John Glaser @CompassBox
at 8pm GMT on Tues 15th November
- The Compass Box potted guide to all you
need to know about the new Scotch Whisky
laws at
www.facebook.com/CompassBox
- Last Vatted Malt Day on Tues 22nd
November encouraging whisky fans
worldwide to bid adieu to Vatted Malt by
raising a glass wherever they are.
- A ceremonial bottling of the last bottle
of Vatted Malt at a mystery location in
Central London by John Glaser at 11.59
on the night of Tues 22nd November –
accompanied by a select Vatted Malt
flash mob.
ABOUT COMPASS BOX
The Compass Box Whisky Company is a
boutique Scotch whiskymaker and craft
blender, started in 2000 by John Glaser.
Compass Box produces and bottles a range
of Scotch whiskies, available in over 25
countries around the world. A four-time
winner of the Whisky Magazine Innovator
of the Year award, Compass Box is known
throughout the whisky world for quality,
innovation and passion for great whisky.
The Compass Box signature range of
whiskies includes Asyla, Oak Cross, The
Peat Monster, The Spice Tree and
Hedonism. They also produce limited
release whiskies annually, and Orangerie,
a Scotch whisky infusion.
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