Review: Compass Box Flaming Heart 25th Anniversary Edition 2025

It is almost hard to believe that boutique Scotch blender Compass Box has been with us for a quarter century. To celebrate their 25th anniversary, they recently released a commemorative edition of Flaming Heart, one of their earliest expressions and a bottle that helped put the Compass Box name on the whisky world’s radar all those years ago.

Now, to be clear, this isn’t the 25th year of Flaming Heart. The blended malt got its start in 2006 with new expressions arriving every few years after. This latest release, the eighth so far, is courtesy of current head whisky-maker James Saxon who decided to concentrate on a simpler, peat-focused recipe than past releases. To that end, he has combined mostly Talisker with a smattering of Islay malts (including a dash of Laphroaig aged in Marsala casks). Add to all that smoky goodness a unique component of Benrinnes aged in custom, heavily toasted French oak, and you’ve got the makings of a true celebration in a bottle. Let’s dig in.

Compass Box Flaming Heart 25th Anniversary Edition 2025 Review

The nose is initially reminiscent of our last encounter with this expression in 2018, a bit restrained and dominated mostly by the peated components. It blooms far better, however, and with a little time in the glass that oily smoke, salty sea spray, and camphor takes on an exotic dimension, layering bonfire S’mores with extra toasted marshmallow, marmalade on toast, and an earthy hint of horse stalls (the very clean kind).

The palate is unctuous and round, leading with warm pie spice and honey syrup before transitioning to just-lit cigar wrapper, peppery barbecued meats, and blackberry jam on the midpalate. It’s all quite balanced and elegant, one of the best stitched-together whiskies I’ve yet tasted from the London-based blending wizards. The finish though is the real standout, a long, silky embrace that drizzles sweet lemon oil, clove syrup, and chocolate sauce atop a layer of nougatine and creamy campfire smoke. Exceptional stuff. A bottle of gold to celebrate this silver anniversary.

97.8 proof.

A / $165

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