Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
Crimson Casks
A rich blend of malt Scotch whiskies, mostly matured in sherry casks, with chocolate, plum and spice.
46% ABV, Natural Colour, Not Chill-Filtered
What is Crimson Casks?
It is made from malt whiskies, mostly matured in sherry casks, alongside bourbon, custom French oak and red wine casks. Together, they create rich notes of chocolate, plum and spice.
Crimson Casks is delicious neat or stirred into cocktails.
Taste
Crimson Casks tastes of chocolate fudge, plum and cherry, with clove, toffee and raisin.
The style is rich and spiced, with deep sherry character. Intense, but balanced.
Who we are
Compass Box is an independent Scotch whiskymaker, founded in London (UK) in 2000. We are not distillers. We are more than blenders. We are whiskymakers, and every decision we make is for the flavour.
We search Scotland for the finest aged whiskies from over 40 distilleries. We combine them to create flavours no single distillery could deliver on their own. We have created over 200 Scotch whiskies, including Crimson Casks.
For us, whiskymaking is a creative art, bringing together different ideas, styles and flavours. We also share the full recipe of every bottle we make, so drinkers know exactly what is in their whisky.
Crimson Casks: The Perfect Serve
Crimson Casks makes an excellent Rob Roy, the Scotch whisky version of the Manhattan. If you enjoy a Manhattan, try it with Compass Box Crimson Casks. The red wine cask influence adds extra depth.
Crimson Casks is made from malt whiskies, each one great on its own. They are matured mostly in sherry casks, alongside bourbon, custom French oak and red wine casks. When combined by our whiskymakers, they create a rich, spiced flavour no single distillery could deliver on its own.
How we make it
Crimson Casks is bottled at 46% ABV. We do not add artificial colouring, and do not chill-filter.
These are deliberate choices we make, to protect the natural flavour of the whisky.
See the full recipe for Crimson Casks below, including all component whiskies, and their different flavour profiles.
Recipe
| Distillery | Cask type | % |
|---|---|---|
|
Glen Moray Distillery Glen Moray Distillery
|
Glen Moray Distillery | 31% |
|
Distillery Near the Town of Aberlour Distillery Near the Town of Aberlour
|
Distillery Near the Town of Aberlour | 26.9% |
|
Benrinnes Distillery Benrinnes Distillery
|
Benrinnes Distillery | 14.5% |
|
Distillery Near the Town of Aberlour Distillery Near the Town of Aberlour
|
Distillery Near the Town of Aberlour | 8.4% |
|
Highland Malt Blend Highland Malt Blend
|
Highland Malt Blend | 7.3% |
|
Teaninich Distillery Teaninich Distillery
|
Teaninich Distillery | 6.1% |
|
Glen Moray Distillery Glen Moray Distillery
|
Glen Moray Distillery | 5.8% |
Our approach to whiskymaking
The whiskymakers
Angela D'Orazio, Michael Stephenson, and Samuel Travers are the whiskymakers behind Crimson Casks. Each brings different craftsmanship and experience to the process. Together, they create whiskies none of them could create alone.
How the Crimson Casks recipe was created
Most of the whisky is matured in Oloroso sherry-seasoned butts. These casks bring rich dried fruit, spice and chocolate. Red wine and heavily toasted French oak casks add berry fruit and dark chocolate.
Each distillery brings different character to the blend:
- Glen Moray Distillery, which brings toffee sponge, vanilla and cinnamon, with clove, raspberry and blackcurrant
- Distillery near the town of Aberlour, which brings red apple, rich toffee, raisins and chocolate
- Benrinnes Distillery, which adds golden syrup, red apple and toffee
- A Highland malt blend, in small quantities, which adds espresso, dark chocolate and honey
- Teaninich Distillery, in small quantities, which adds red apple, wood spice and butter
Our whiskymakers select, taste, assess, and combine these malts until every flavour is in balance. This is what creates Compass Box Crimson Casks.
Tasting notes
Elegant and dry sherried malt with balanced red and dried fruits, sophisticated wine tones and fine vanilla oak spice.
Find out more:
Colour
Rich red.
Nose
Ripe plums and damsons with chocolate brownie, hazelnut and praline, plus clove and cardamom spice. A hint of cherry.
Texture
Lush and full-bodied, with a creamy, layered feel.
Palate
Sweet and spicy, with raisins, red apple, toffee and caramel, cinnamon pastry and black pepper, moving toward mocha and chocolate-coated nuts.
Recognition
Compass Box is the most awarded independent Scotch whisky brand in the world.
Crimson Casks has been recognised internationally, including:
- 93 points - Whisky Advocate
- International Wine and Spirits Competition
- San Francisco World Spirits Competition
- International Wine Challenge
How Crimson Casks compares
If you enjoy sherried single malts, Crimson Casks adds red wine and French oak influence for more layers of flavour in one bottle. If you enjoy Scotch blends, Crimson Casks is made entirely from malt whiskies, and offers full transparency about what is inside.
Serves beyond the highball
The Crimson Casks Rob Roy
The Rob Roy offers a Scotch twist on the classic Manhattan.
Recipe:
- Add 50ml Crimson Casks, 25ml sweet vermouth and 2 dashes of Angostura bitters to a mixing glass with ice.
- Stir.
- Strain into a chilled glass.
Neat
In any glass, at room temperature. This is how to experience the full flavour of the whisky.
On the rocks
In a rocks glass with one large ice cube. The ice slowly softens the whisky and opens up another layer of flavour.
Over ice cream
Crimson Casks is also delicious poured over vanilla ice cream. The flavours combine as the ice cream melts.
Put a good scoop of vanilla ice cream in a small bowl or glass. Pour Crimson Casks over the top.
Food Pairings
Crimson Casks works well with rich flavours that match its sherry and spice.
Try:
- Cured meats. The spice of Crimson Casks balances the richness of the meat. A firm, nutty dry sausage brings out the chocolate notes. A rich cured beef, such as bresaola, brings out the plum. Serve with sourdough bread and salted butter.
- Dark chocolate. The chocolate notes in the whisky match the chocolate.
- Red meat with rich sauces. Rich, savoury food goes well with the sherry character.