2012 Flaming Heart is Here
Always one of the most anticpated bottles of the year, the Flaming Heart is now in stock! The Fourth Edition is no slouch, comparing very favorably to the Third (which I just sipped on last night to do a comparison). Anyone who likes Talisker 18, peated Brora, or any combination of oily, fruity, waxy flavors combined with peat and brine should jump in - fast! It's got all the sweetness, texture, and smoke in perfect balance. Glaser always delivers with this whisky and this edition is another notch in his belt. We've got a healthy supply between our NorCal and SoCal allocations, but this whisky will never make it to the big K&L email. We sold a bunch yesterday via the insider's email list and I expect this blog post to put it over the edge. I'm in for one - at least!
Compass Box Flaming Heart Fourth Edition Malt Scotch Whisky $89.99 - Here we go! The wildly popular Flaming Heart Series is back with one of the years most anticipated new blends. Coming from four of the official Scotch Malt regions, we all know that our dear friend Mr. Glaser tends to knock this out of the park. Serge Valentine writes, "Colour: dark straw. Nose: impeccable start, on a rather more refined peat than elsewhere (I mean in youngish single malts) and touches of agave and cane juice on top of an elegant Laphroaigness. Beeswax and seawater, antiseptic and overripe apples, bandages and damp clay, Japanese green tea and linseed oil. Then fresh mint, lime, oysters and just touches of diesel oil. Lovely lovely lovely. Mouth: the first thing I like here is the strength. Sounds odd, I know, but these 48.9% work extremely well, it’s nervous and big but approachable and, well, drinkable. Other than that, it’s a superb combination of pink grapefruits, shellfish, olive brine, marzipan, lemon, touches of fresh coriander, lemon balm, some kind of waxy citrons and plain green olives. Passion fruits, cough syrup, liquorice... It’s very smoky too. Finish: great as well because it remains elegant, zesty, even kind of ethereal despite all the oomph. Leaves your mouth a fresh as a baby’s! Comments: no, really, this is truly excellent. The bottle’s lovely too, it’ll be hard to throw it away once it’s empty (which will happen fast). Potential lamp stands? Nah, too narrow" 91 points whiskyfun.com.
-David Driscoll