Delos is the whiskymakers’ first limited-edition of 2023

February 2023: Award-winning Scotch whiskymakers Compass Box introduce a new, limited-edition expression with Delos; a delicate and soothing Scotch inspired by flavours of the past (RRP £265, ABV: 49%).

Available from February, Delos is a reimagined study of Compass Box’s much admired extinct blend, Asyla. Delos focuses on capturing Asyla’s vibrancy and soothing sweetness, turning to older stocks to achieve this. First created in 2001, Asyla was the ethereally beautiful cornerstone of the core range until its retirement in 2018.

Delos is the second release from the whiskymaker’s Extinct Blends Quartet series and will only have 5,520 bottles available worldwide. The Extinct Blend Quartet celebrates discontinued characters and flavours, reappraising four very different expressions of blended Scotch. The remaining two from the series will be introduced in late 2023 and early 2024.

Named after a Greek island said to be the birthplace of the god Apollo that is blessed with mosaics and ruined ancient temples, Delos signifies Asyla’s beauty and serenity as a whisky. Blended to entice the senses, the sumptuous and meditative flavours of Delos provide a moment of sanctuary, embodying a rare escape to a sun-kissed paradise of great antiquity.

With an interplay of grain and malt, Delos balances some of Compass Box’s rarest and most idiosyncratic stocks of whisky to create an elegant and refined flavour. Malt whiskies from the much sought-after Glen Elgin, Imperial and Miltonduff distilleries – all aged in American oak barrels – bring a sweet yet mellow medley of ripe pear, pineapple, orange, and vanilla notes, while the maturity of the grain whisky gradually builds to reveal guava, heather honey, and chai spices.

The captivating label art features a female lute player from the original Asyla label, reimagined in mosaic form. However, she now plays a lyre, the instrument classically associated with Apollo, with the outline of the tiles broken away to reflect the coastlines of Delos and Greece.

James Saxon, Compass Box lead whiskymaker says, “While inspired by the style and recipe structure of Asyla, Delos has richer and rounder flavours from using older stocks of whiskies which amplify the character, bringing more grandeur to it and making it more resonant. The delicate mouthfeel and transportive aromas within Delos are nevertheless familiarly delicious. For me, sipping Delos feels like a holiday.”

Curious whisky lovers can find out more about Delos and other Compass Box whiskies at compassboxwhisky.com or follow @compassboxwhiskyco on Instagram.

Compass Box whiskies are available to purchase at compassboxwhisky.com, masterofmalt.com and thewhiskyexchange.com.

 ABOUT COMPASS BOX

Compass Box are Scotch whiskymakers. The word ‘whiskymaker’ is their word – it does not appear in a dictionary. For over 20 years they have been relentlessly focused on reinventing Scotch whisky, with every new blend designed to help make the world of whisky a more interesting place. They have not done it on their own and have collaborated with some of the world’s most visionary bartenders and designers to really push the boundaries of what is possible. They are always experimenting, always looking for sparks of creativity that will deliver something totally compelling, yet completely surprising. This vision motivates them as whiskymakers. 

ABOUT COMPASS BOX LIMITED EDITIONS

Compass Box’s Limited Editions allow them complete creative freedom, often using smaller parcels at greater ages. Each Limited Edition is one-off in nature. Every year, Compass Box creates a number of Limited Editions from very rare releases of a few hundred bottles to more accessible runs of several thousand bottles. Each one boasts a different identity, each expresses deliciousness in Scotch whisky in a different way.

Oh Canada! We’re feeling the love this month as we celebrate the first ever Canadian single malt to be bottled by the SMWS in its 40 year history – Cask No. 152.1 “Vibrant and vigorous.”

And of course we have several other wonderful whiskies in this Outturn, including the first Rye Whiskey to be released by SMWS Canada – Cask No. RW5.3 “Exploring new frontiers” and an elegant small batch Speyside single malt – “Full Bloom” – that spent time in Australian Muscat wine barriques.

There’s a lot to love in February’s Outturn, and you can also look forward to another Vaults Collection release in mid-February, this time a 31 year old sherry-matured whisky from Speyside’s most famous distillery, so watch your email for details!

SWEET MEMORIES ON DESERTED BEACHES

CASK N0. 48.138

CASK TYPE:  Refill ex-bourbon hogshead

AGE:  12 years

FLAVOUR PROFILE:  Spicy & sweet

BOTTLE NOTE:  “The cool sea breeze touching our warm cheeks as we enjoyed peppermint tea and saltwater taffy. Water added marshmallows and Dutch stroopwafels.”

FULL BLOOM

FB18

INITIAL CASKS:  1st fill ex-bourbon barrels

FINAL CASKS:  Ex-Muscat wine barriques

AGE:  18 years

“For the creation of this small batch single malt we teamed up with our friends at Nebb Whisky Barrels, who specialise in Australian vintage wine barrels. We selected some top quality Speyside single malt that had matured for 16 years in 1st fill bourbon barrels. We then transferred the whisky to some beautiful barriques that had been filled for 20 years with heady Muscat wine in a family run winery in New South Wales.”

EXPLORING NEW FRONTIERS

CASK NO. RW5.3

CASK TYPE:  New oak barrel

AGE:  5 years

BOTTLE NOTE:  “Sandalwood, orange oil and spicy Jamaican dark chocolate rum truffles with candied almonds. 95% rye and 5% malted barley.”

VIBRANT AND VIGOROUS

Cask No. 152.1

CASK TYPE:  1st fill ex-bourbon barrel

AGE:  9 years

FLAVOUR PROFILE:  Young & spritely

BOTTLE NOTE:  “Attractively sweet (caramel log, toffee, Lebkuchen, marzipan); but zingy and vibrant at the same time (citrus, white pepper, wasabi, pine).” 

GOING LUXE

CASK NO. 64.127

INITIAL CASK:  Ex-bourbon hogshead

FINAL CASK:  1st fill custom hogshead

AGE:  12 years

FLAVOUR PROFILE:  Sweet, fruity & mellow

BOTTLE NOTE:  “Sweet Virginia tobacco, frankincense and a chocolate and raspberry crème brûlée followed by churros dipped in hot chocolate and café con miel.” 

TANNIC, SHAMANIC, OCEANIC

CASK NO. 16.64

CASK TYPE:  Refill re-charred hogshead

AGE:  8 years

FLAVOUR PROFILE:  Peated

BOTTLE NOTE:  “Sauna wood and burnt twigs, bonfire of driftwood and peat (tatties roasted in the embers), burnt sage leaves; caramel popcorn and neoprene.”

THROW THE CORK AWAY!

DISTILLERY 53 SMALL BATCH

INITIAL CASKS:  Ex-bourbon hogsheads

FINAL CASKS:  1st fill Oloroso hogsheads

AGE:  8 years

FLAVOUR PROFILE:  Peated

BOTTLED FOR THE 2022 ISLAY WHISKY FESTIVAL

LIMIT ONE BOTTLE PER MEMBER

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society Canada
Suite 160
104 – 1240 Kensington Road NW
Calgary, AB  T2N 3P7
403-969-8225
curious@smws.ca
www.smws.ca

ROSEBANK ROSES
ENCHANTMENT

It’s a big day for Rosebank fans and collectors as we launch the final instalment of 21-year-old single malt from Elixir Distillers’ extremely rare Rosebank Roses series. Matured in a combination of bourbon and madeira casks, Enchantment brings together the lost distillery’s signature floral and grassy character with orchard fruit sweetness and subtle spice.

Closed for more then 20 years, Rosebank distillery produces some of the rarest and most sought-after Scottish single malts. We have a limited number of bottles available for purchase via ballot until 23:59 GMT on Wednesday 15 February 2023. Details of how to enter are below.

  ENTER BALLOT 

Blanton’s Gold Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon (700ml~European Import)

$240.00

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The rare Blanton’s Gold has become beloved by connoisseurs and collectors world wide. The ultimate single barrel bourbon and founder of the category, Blanton’s has become one of the most asked for and hardest to obtain bourbons on the market today. We’ve found some limited stocks of European bound product that would otherwise have not been available. The famous “Gold” Blanton’s is so named for its unique golden horse and golden writing. Bottled at a perfect 103 proof, the Blanton’s Gold ups the complexity considerably from the standard release without the heat that the Straight From the Barrel offers. This is the perfect whiskey to offer nearly any bourbon lover if you’re looking for a special bottle that they’ve never had. It’s a true Kentucky benchmark and should be considered one of the truly great whiskies on the market today.

Email: wine@klwines.com
Phone: (877) KL-WINES (Toll Free 877.559.4637)
K&L Wine Merchants 3005 El Camino Real Redwood City, CA 94061 USA
San Francisco, Redwood City, Hollywood CA

K&L Exclusive: A One-of-a-Kind, MGP-Distilled Single Barrel
Barrell Craft 8 Years 9 Months Old K&L Exclusive Single Barrel #Z5L5 Indiana Straight Bourbon Whiskey (750ml) ($99.99)
“While it sometimes feels like the Barrell parade never ends, it’s only because we rarely say no. They are always so damn good, and each one is different…”
— Andrew Whiteley, K&L Spirits Buyer

K&L’s whiskey fans are well acquainted with Barrell’s expertly selected blends, but their highly elusive single barrels are every bit as compelling thanks to their wildly distinctive styles from one cask to the next. This singular, nearly 9-year-old expression from the famed MGP distillery offers a bourbon profile unlike anything we’ve seen on the current market.

Barrell Craft 8 Years 9 Months Old K&L Exclusive Single Barrel #Z5L5 Indiana Straight Bourbon Whiskey (750ml) ($99.99)

K&L Notes: Barrell is known for their exceptional blending skills and creative barrel finishings, and rightfully so, as it’s their wheelhouse. But in the midst of all the high-quality sourcing they do for their blends, they run into singular, exceptional casks that just have to be bottled on their own. They’re tightly limited in the number of single barrels they release, but we often get the cream of the crop due to our long-standing relationship with the team. Barrel Z5L5 is just such a barrel. Aged for 8 years and 9 months, this MGP-produced bourbon barrel yielded just 185 bottles at 53.66% ABV.

David Othenin-Girard | K&L Spirits Buyer | Review Date: February 09, 2023

This oddball cask is one of the most unusual and out-of-character MGP whiskies we’ve ever offered. Distilled from 99% corn and 1% malted barley, this is not corn whiskey or light whiskey, but proper bourbon, aged almost nine years. The nose is bourbon-ish in a completely different way than most MGP juice. It reminds me much more of some of the wheated mashbills coming from Kentucky than any of the high-rye bourbons that typically come from the famous Indiana plant. The nose is very confectionary, with rich marshmallow, sweet quince jam, pungent oak, and Tahitian vanilla bean. Caramel candies, peach candies, powdered sugar, and hints of dark oak in the background. On the palate, there’s more sweetness up front with a lovely stone fruit character, candied walnuts, roasted vanilla, burnt sugar, and bits of milk chocolate. A soft, appealing Seville orange peel dries up the finish nicely, but the candy and sugary fruit flavors linger for a long time. This really is a sweet one that kind of has my number when I’m feeling like something really easy to love, which is often. Super-supple, soft, and rich, there’s no bourbon lover who will be able to look down their nose at this unusual mashbill once they’ve tasted this lovely candy barrel.

Andrew Whiteley | K&L Spirits Buyer | Review Date: February 08, 2023

Dense caramels and sweet, dried apricots jump out on the nose. The proof, just hovering over 107, feels perfect for neat pours. Sweet corn abounds. This is fine old Indiana distillate, reminiscent of the long-gone 10-year Faultline bottles we used to procure from Smooth Ambler. The beauty of Barrell’s single-barrel program is that they are tasting such a wide variety of stellar whiskies, you never quite know what you’re going to get. When they find a barrel that stands out from the crowd, they sequester it into the SB program rather than blend it into one of their top-notch, small-batch blends. As you sit with this one, you’ll move from vanilla and candy corn into more cool herbs like mint and sassafras. It’s well rounded on the palate, with a long, mellow finish. While it sometimes feels like the Barrell parade never ends, it’s only because we rarely say no. They are always so damn good, and each one is different, so it’s worth having a ton of barrels around. Plus, word on the street is they’re moving away from the single-barrel game to focus on the micro-blends, so we have to stock up before they’re gone forever.

Email: wine@klwines.com
Phone: (877) KL-WINES (Toll Free 877.559.4637)
K&L Wine Merchants 3005 El Camino Real Redwood City, CA 94061 USA
San Francisco, Redwood City, Hollywood CA

Caol Ila 9 Year Old

2013 Vintage SAMAROLI exclusive

We’re still feeling the love with Valentine’s Day on the horizon and this beautiful SAMAROLI Caol Ila Exclusive offer💕 Featuring Italian flair in the label design and description, this 9 year old Caol Ila was bottled exclusively for TWB by the world renowned bottler SAMAROLI.

“a beautiful synthesis of smoke and creaminess”

A single hogshead cask #315282 bottled at 45% that really brings out the balance between big bold peat smoke and zesty coastal Islay. Available only at TWB, for a not-to-be-missed deal.

Caol Ila 2013 – £60 / $60* / €56*

Caol Ila 9 Year Old 2013 vintage Islay single malt Scotch whisky. Single cask hogshead #315282 bottled 2022 by Samaroli for The Whisky Barrel 15th Anniversary. The label depicts The Lord of the Isles. A rare expression bottled by one of the world’s most renowned independent bottlers; Samaroli. 490 numbered bottles.

The nose opens with an intriguing notes of earth and musk which pierce through sensational, saline chorus.

The next voice we hear entices us with complex notes of soft vanilla and lifting fruitiness, a voice which sings ever louder on the palate.

An explosion of myrtle follows, alongside notes of juniper berries and a sweet, creamy bee-pollen character which melts the initial austerity away.

The sweet notes soften and smoothen the body of this whisky, and the smoky notes support the structure: a beautiful synthesis of smoke and creaminess.

Notes of heather swaying in a sea breeze caress the senses, helping us to lose ourselves in our imaginations, curled up on a beach next to a fire that slowly goes out.

Caol Ila Distillery is famous for the stunning view from its still house windows looking out across the Sound of Islay and for the objects which have passed by including naval battleships, submarines and whales. Caol Ila was established in 1846 by Hector Henderson on a sheltered but rocky stretch of coast on north east Islay. Now the largest malt whisky distillery on Islay it produces peated and some un-peated malt whisky with the distillery range including Caol Ila 12 year old and the Distiller’s Edition. Caol Ila participates in Feis Ile, the annual Islay Festival of Malt and Music.

Bimber to release exclusive Gonzalez Byass Matusalem sherry finished single malt whisky with Selfridges

London’s Bimber Distillery today announced that it has partnered once more with the iconic department store Selfridges to release an upcoming single malt London whisky that has been finished in Matusalem sherry.

Originally matured for over four years in American oak ex-bourbon casks, the whisky was transferred for an additional maturation in Matusalem sherry sourced from Gonzalez Byass – one of Spain’s most well-known sherry bodegas. The creation of Matusalem sees both Palomino and Pedro Ximénez grapes fermented, fortified and then aged in separate Soleras for around 15 years before being combined (75% Palomino with 25% Pedro Ximénez). The blend is then aged for an additional 15 years within a Matusalem Solera before being bottled as a deeply rich VORS style sherry.

The release of 965 bottles at 51.4% ABV will be available from Monday 13^th February in Selfridges London, Selfridges Manchester and Selfridges Birmingham as well as Selfridges.com where it will be sold jointly with bottles of the original Gonzalez Byass Matusalem sherry.

The single cask release was crafted to Bimber’s exacting standards. The spirit was produced from the distillery’s single farm barley and malted on a dedicated floor at Warminster Maltings, before being fermented for seven days in bespoke on-site constructed American oak washbacks. Distillation took place in Bimber’s customised stills which possess an increased copper surface area, resulting in a light, fruit-forward, layered new make spirit.

Bimber Distillery spokesperson Matt McKay said “We are thrilled to be releasing our third collaborative single malt whisky with Selfridges – and to be continuing to introduce Bimber’s whisky to the stores many spirit lovers. The absorbing complexity and rich sweetness of the Matusalem is the perfect counterpart to our bright, fruit-forward, textural single malt whisky.”

Neil McDonald – Beer, Wine and Spirit Buyer from Selfridges added “For this third partnership release with Bimber we sourced a cask from Gonzales Byass which would add a unique characteristic to our 2023 London single malt whisky exclusive. We’re delighted with the result which offers the perfect harmony between the whisky’s naturally rich, fruit-forward character and the sherry’s absorbing complexity.”

Bimber Matusalem Sherry Finish – Selfridges Exclusive

Matured in first fill ex-bourbon barrels, then finished in a Gonzalez Byass Matusalem Sherry

Nose: Deep and moderately sweet. Ripe cranberries and redcurrant jelly join gracefully aged sherry  with aromas of chocolate gateaux, cinnamon rolls and plump raisins

Palate: Highly textural with layers of fruit cake, gingerbread and grated chocolate. Vibrant stone and tropical fruits support alongside a sprinkle of nutmeg and cinnamon

Finish: Enduring with luxurious sherried fruits and perfectly balanced spice

70cl

51.4% ABV

RRP £84.99

Available from Monday 13^th February via Selfridges

About Bimber 

Bimber Distillery produces world-class single malt whisky, handcrafted with passion in West London. As a leading distiller of English whisky, we combine generations of rich distilling heritage with the finest quality ingredients to create the ultimate craft whisky experience.

www.bimberdistillery.co.uk

About Selfridges

Selfridges was founded by Harry Gordon Selfridge, changing the world of retail forever when the first store was opened on Oxford Street in 1909. Since then, the brand has opened three stores in Manchester and Birmingham.

Selfridges has been a key reinventor of retail with innovation across in-store experiences and brand partnerships with leaders in luxury. This includes Dior at Alto rooftop collaboration, the opening of Selfridges Cinema, and helping to launch industry disruptors and emerging retail innovators including Charlotte Tilbury and Pangaia.

Building on over a decade of retail activism, in 2020 Selfridges launched Project Earth, its evergreen sustainability strategy, with bold targets to reinvent retail and meet its commitment to a net zero future. Selfridges aims to help customers change the way they shop in three ways: by addressing the materials used in products, launching and exploring new retail models such as resell, repair, refill and rental, and engaging with teams, partners and customers to inspire a shift in mindsets. Selfridges has made ambitious 2030 targets for everything it builds, buys and sells to meet its environmental and ethical standards; for 45% of transactions to come from circular products and services; and to build an inclusive retail culture in which teams, communities and customers put people and planet first in all decision making. Underpinning Project Earth is a broader commitment to Science Based Targets and to achieve net-zero carbon across the business by 2040 as a signatory to the Climate Pledge.

Selfridges has been transformed in line with a long-term vision that harks back to the core principles of Harry Gordon Selfridge himself, whose high standards of style, service and desire to entertain run through each store today. Selfridges was named “Best Retailer” at the Positive Luxury Awards 2020, a “Best 25 Big Company To Work For” 2020 as awarded by The Sunday Times, and voted “Best Department Store in the World” at the Global Department Store Summits 2010, 2012, 2014, 2018. From weddings to the skate bowl, Selfridges continues to generate new ways to surprise and amaze its customers in London, Manchester, Birmingham and at selfridges.com.

www.selfridges.com

Gordon & MacPhail ~ The Private Collection

Gordon & MacPhail’s Private Collection range features a truly exceptional and unique collection of greatly aged single malts from a mixture of celebrated, little-known and now closed distilleries across Scotland.

Personally selected by members of the Urquhart family, each release is a unique and exquisite chapter in Scotland’s whisky history.

Gordon & MacPhail Private Collection Glenlivet 1976 70cl

Nose
Lemon peel and green apple aromas accompany a hint of smoke. Grapefruit zest comes to the fore with sweet poached pears and toasted oak

Palate
Smooth and sweet flavours of white chocolate are balance by soft aged leather.
Honeysuckle and aniseed lead to toasted almonds.

Finish
A light-medium finish of citrus peel and lingering cracked black pepper.

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Gordon & MacPhail Private Collection Glenlivet 1978 70cl

Nose
Stewed raisin aromas combine with orange peel and faint notes of beeswax polish. Baked spiced apples give way to vanilla pod and soft nutmeg.

Palate
Cinnamon spice flavours are followed by marmalade and toasted almonds. Roasted coffee beans come to the fore, leading to Morello cherry and hazelnuts.

Finish
A long finish with sultanas and a sweet sherry influence.

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