Compass Box Brûlée Royale (70cl, 49%)

Brûlée Royale is a blended malt from Compass Box, composed by whisky maker Samuel Travers around the caramelised sweetness of a crème brûlée. It was bottled in August 2025 at 49%, in an edition of 8,556 bottles, and is non-chill-filtered and natural in colour. The blend is 53.3% Benrinnes from first-fill bourbon barrels, 39% Clynelish from second-fill barrels of new American oak, 7.2% Speyburn from a refill American oak hogshead and 0.5% 21-year-old Ardbeg from a re-charred American oak barrel. The nose offers crème brûlée, crisp caramel, buttery pastry, poached pear and fresh vanilla. The palate is dense and creamy, with honeyed malt, grilled peach and tarte tatin. The finish is long and silky, with nutmeg, burnt toffee, banana split and oak.