Last week, we explored bubbly soft drinks for the holidays...now it's time to get serious about holiday imbibing....and talk a little about some specialty Scotch whiskies.
Compass Box is a specialist among Scotch whisky-makers. A small, boutique firm, it was founded by American John Glaser, who spent years in the wine industry here and in France, and who is also the former Global Marketing Director at Johnnie Walker, no slouch in the Scotch business. It was Glaser's passion for fine Scotch whisky that led him to found Compass Box nearly 10 years ago, in Edinburgh. Starting out on his kitchen table, in his flat in London (where the
ex-pat lives), he began systematically and scientifically "dabbling." His idea was simple: Create whiskies of unassailable high quality in a style that is more congruent, to his palate, to the tastes of 21st-century drinkers. Many would agree that Compass Box has achieved that goal...and to boot, the company has won countless awards for its products.
Glaser's neophyte company has garnered the "Innovator of the Year Award" four times from Whisky Magazine, an unprecedented feat, and the "Pioneer of the Year Award" twice from the Malt Advocate. Compass Box whiskies have been awarded over 60 medals and prizes in its short history. His products represent a wide range of Scotch whisky, with one of the premier products being Hed
onism Maximus (produced in a limited edition), a reserve version of the company's classic grain whisky Hedonism, with deeper, more intense flavors. Additionally, Compass Box is dedicated to creating fine infusions of smooth, sweet Scotch whisky-- meaning the best whiskies are enhanced with subtle flavors.
Another of Glaser's top-sellers is Orangerie, a delicate infusion made of smooth, sweet Scotchwhisky enhanced by the aromas and fragrances of the hand-zested peels of Navalino oranges, subtle accents of Indonesian cassia bark, and Sri Lankan cloves. The infusions complement the whisky and augment its overall aroma and flavor.
What are the secrets of this delicious, smooth mixture? For starters, Glaser uses a truly top-tier whisky, a single malt and a single grain whisky from Fife. Secondly, the company uses only the freshest, highest quality oranges and top-class, aromatic spices. Also of note is the fact that the fruits are all zested by hand (no synthetic flavorings or oils), and only the freshest of fruits are used.
Orangerie is ideal for mixing wonderful holiday drinks, too, and is not only an incredible match with dark chocolate (see Promenade's chocolate page in the current issue, especially when served slightly chilled. It's also ideal for making soothing holiday cocktails, including the aptly named St. Nicholas. Here's the recipe:
50ml Orangerie
20ml Lemon juice
20ml Maple syrup
10ml Orange juice
Shake ingredients and pour into a rocks glass along with ice cubes; garnish with orange and lemon wedges.
Note: A bourbon sour made with maple syrup is called a St Lawrence; St Nicholas is associated with oranges in Christian (specifically Dutch Christian) iconography, hence the name.
Posted on November 30, 2009 - by
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About the Author: About the Author: Ruth J. Katz is a well-known shopping and service writer based in New York City. She has written about shopping for 25 years for New York magazine; covered the topic on-air at Fox-TV for several years as the Home Services expert; and had her own show on both the USA and Lifetime Cable networks. Katz wrote extensively for The New York Times as well, and contributed periodically to the New York Daily News. She is a passionate shopper, always looking for not merely a good buy, but the best buy, ferreting out a "steal" or discovering up-and-coming designers. She has written five books and is a former contributing editor to Hearst's Redbook, Classic Home, and Colonial Homes; she is currently a Contributing Editor of New York Home, Golf Connoisseur, The Modern Estate, and Promenade magazines. She is also the former Shopping Director for Davler Media's Manhattan Living.
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