Compass Box is one of the Scotch world’s most recognizable names, though the brand and its flavor experts don’t fall into an off-the-shelf definition. The company—which is majority owned by London-based Caelum Capital as of 2022—doesn’t own its own distillery, nor does it fit neatly into the description of a typical independent bottler. Instead, employees utilize the term “whiskymakers,” an entirely made up word that emerged sometime after the company’s founding in 2000.
Pick the moniker that makes you most comfortable, because at the end of the day, Compass Box has built its reputation on some mighty fine blends. Not each and every bottling is a home run, but there’s enough consistency—and willingness to experiment—that many astute drinker keep coming back for more. Compass Box is hoping their latest limited release—dubbed Brûlée Royale—does just that by fusing the worlds of whisky and pastry for a sweet and decadent dram.
The blend itself is composed of four single malt components (so it’s technically a blended malt Scotch whisky). As per usual, Compass Box discloses the exact percentage breakdown of each component:
- 18 year Single Malt from Benrinnes Distillery, First-Fill Bourbon Barrel, 53.3% (Brand tasting notes: Basque cheesecake, pannacotta, William pear)
- 8 Year Single Malt Clynelish Distillery, Second-Fill new American Oak Barrel, 39% (Brand tasting notes: tarte Tatin, peaches in custard, sugar brittle)
- 24 Year Single Malt from Speyburn Distillery, Refill American Oak Hogshead, 7.2% (Brand tasting notes: red apple, floral/linen candle wax, steamed milk)
- 23 Year Single Malt Ardbeg Distillery, Recharred American Oak Barrel, 0.5% (Brand tasting notes: hot coals, scorched custard, raspberry)
The final blend is bottled at 49% ABV. Each 700ml bottle carries a suggested retail price of $159.99, and a total of 8,556 will be released worldwide.
The blend’s formulation was overseen by Samuel Travers, a relatively recent addition to the team of Compass Box whiskymakers, having joined the brand earlier in 2025.
According to Travers, Compass Box’s latest blend was inspired by cuisine that emerged in 17th century France. (It’s worth noting the exact national origins of crème brûlée are debated, but it’s often attributed to French chef François Massialot, so let’s table any debate for a minute or so.)
“Versailles was the epicenter of innovation in art, science and gastronomy in the 17th century, making it the ideal source of inspiration,” says Travers. “Through the lens of Chef Massialot’s intoxicating creation, we highlight a very special parcel of whisky from the Clynelish Distillery, which has been matured in second-fill custom American oak barrels that offer extravagant sweetness while their precise toasting and charring coax just a hint of scorched sugar.”
Ardent Compass Box fans might be familiar with that Clynelish component, as a slightly younger version goes into the brand’s Nectarosity, which is one of its core offerings. The Clynelish single malt was aged in barrels that, as virgin casks, previously held Girvan single grain whisky for a year. On their website, Compass Box specifically highlights their work with Independent Stave Co.’s Missouri cooperage to craft custom barrels for this and other parcels of whisky.
At an industry tasting event, Travers also highlighted the small percentage of 23 year Ardbeg in the blend, which added a light touch of smoke reminiscent of flavors in a traditionally made crème brûlée.
Brand tasting notes for Brûlée Royale highlight a nose rich in—you guessed it—crème brûlée, poached pears, vanilla pods, and “scorched sugar brittles.” The palate evokes clotted cream, honeyed malt, more peaches, and freshly mixed custard. On the finish, pannacotta joins with nutmeg before a “whisper of burnt toffee and banana split.”
To promote Brûlée Royale, Compass Box teamed up with renowned pastry chef Dominique Ansel for a special Brûlée Royale Fondue, the recipe of which can be found on the company’s website. The recipe and whisky both went live on October 8th, 2025.