Lady Luck NAS CB (Compass Box)

Lady Luck NAS CB (Compass Box) is a blended malt Scotch from Compass Box. It brings together malts from more than one distillery, Caol Ila lending the peat. Water falls to the distillery from Loch nam Ban in the hills above.

The Caol Ila within lends a clean, lemony Islay smoke rather than a heavy tarry one. A refill bourbon hogshead held it, keeping the distillery character to the fore. The make balances phenolic smoke against a bright, oily citrus. The six tall stills sit behind picture windows looking out to Jura. The oily texture comes from the spirit cut, the cask adding depth around it. Years in oak round the smoke, the peat mellowing while the brine stays. The malt is medium peated, giving a cleaner smoke than the south shore Islays. A gentle vanillin sweetness from the oak balances the coastal phenols. Malt comes from the Port Ellen maltings on the south of the island.

At 46% it is supple and oily. A coastal peat smoke runs through it, with lemon, brine and a soft oil over a sweet fruit. A sea salt and an olive oil note sit under the smoke. Lemon, soft ash and sea salt see it out. A characterful smoky blended malt Scotch.