I previously tried the Eleuthera (and even made a video in Paris), which is no longer in production and then became, quite litteraly, the lost blend from Compass Box. They now released this Lost Blend as an homage to the Eleuthera. The Lost Blend comes with three different labels that all depict items that are no longer used. The whisky consists of 80% Highland malts (Clynelish and Allt-a-Bhainne) and 20% Islay (Caol Ila). Only (well) 12.018 bottles are released, so soon this whisky will live up to its name, I suppose.

On the nose it is invitingly fruity and sweet at the start. Marshmallows, citrus, gooseberries, green apples. After a few moments peaches start to dominate. The peat is – contrary to the Eleuthera – quite discrete. Great nose.

On the palate – with a nice full body – the peat is much more present, but again it is the fruit that calls the shots. Wonderfully sweet and almost creamy with loads of peach and vanilla, but also a peppery bite.

The medium long finish offers smoke and wood that overpowers the fruit somewhat. The peat whispers its final breath.

Well, I quite like this one over the Eleuthera, to be honest. More subtle, discrete but in the end more character as well. Get it while you can, if you don’t mind paying 80 EUR for it.

Comment on @markjedi1's review

Time for some new releases from Compass box. It’s been a while since I tasted a new one from this brilliant little whisky company (headed by John Glazer). this time we’re speaking Blended Malt again: THE LOST BLEND is a new limited edition release – this marriage of three single malts is a homage to their long lost (and much loved) Eleuthera whisky, and boasts the same unique smoky fruity style. After 10 years of searching, whisky maker John Glaser was finally able to track down the unique whiskies he required earlier this year. The result is The Lost Blend. The whisky is bottled at 46% and what’s also unique is that they have created 3 different labels to be used with this same whisky. In terms of the vatting :

The whisky is a union of Single malt whisky (of a certain age) from the Clynelish distillery, and a small cache of extraordinary whisky from the Allt-A-Bhainne distillery, aged in American oak barrels and just a few years shy of two decades old, combined with malt whisky from the Caol Ila distillery. Bottled at 46% 12,018 bottles was bottled in August 2014. It is not chill-filtered and is natural colour.

Nose: The nose is rather fruity, fruitier than expected I must say (in a good way), with some citrus notes and orchard fruit (peach, apple) vanilla and honey drops. quite fresh, with a hint of peat underneath, but very very subtle.

Palate: Ok this is very nice, and the peat is stronger here, but don’t expect a whole lot of it. it’s peaty but rather creamy too with vanilla, then the pepper and spices become more evident, and add a punchy note, this is also when the wood kicks in, getting drier.

Finish: Certainly there’s smoke there, with wood, vanilla and some of the fruit. much drier.