Compass Box Delilah's XXV

Certain limited edition Compass Box bottles are created exclusively for high-end bars, notably U.S. whisky establishments like Chicago's Delilah's. Delilah's, a punk rock whisky bar, has collaborated with Compass Box on two special releases: one for its 20th anniversary and this second one for its 25th. Compass Box has transparently shared the recipe for this 25th Anniversary edition, which includes: a Refill Hogshead containing the original 20th anniversary blend; a First Filled American Cask with Grain Whisky from Cameronbridge; malt from Miltonduff; Teaninich single malt; malt from Linkwood; and malt whisky 'from a town near Aberlour'. It's bottled at 40% ABV and has a tawny color. The aroma is dominated by caramelized apples, akin to those found at a theme park, resembling an Aberlour 12yo. The palate offers pleasant vanilla cream from the grain whisky, along with pistachio and vanilla ice cream, and rum and raisins. The aftertaste is very nice but lacks complexity. A sulfur note quickly transitions to chocolate and then pleasant hints of coconut. Ultimately, I feel this blend incorporates too many whiskies and is overly simplistic and lacks depth. However, the tasting and aroma notes are very clean. I don't perceive the creaminess often found in Compass Box, likely due to the absence of Glen Elgin malts, which they frequently use. The sherry influence is minimal, but the vanilla bourbon notes are well-executed. It's a good blended Scotch with a stunning bottle. My rating is 83 out of 100.

The bottle's design is unfortunately unattractive. The aroma, however, is quite pleasant. It possesses standard Scotch characteristics like a mild sea mist with a focus on brown sugar, vanilla, and cherry. It smells wonderfully rich and decadent with good balance and clear flavors – as one might expect from hedonism. The palate is surprisingly herbal, with an unfortunate bitterness that intrudes. It's not a pleasant anise or smoky bitterness, but rather just bitter herbs. There's a faint mintiness, but not much else. The other flavors are well-rounded, though, with plenty of sea spray and a full sweetness. It's moderately rich. There are nice plum notes, although they are somewhat muted. The herbs unfortunately detract from it. There's no overpowering alcohol flavor, but those herbs are a significant issue. There are some very good flavors present, but nothing exceptional, and the unpleasant undertone persists. It's fairly creamy (though not as much as Compass Box Hedonism). It also has an exceptionally oily mouthfeel. Unfortunately, it seems the intense sweetness was added to counteract the bitter herbs, resulting in a discordant blend. I could drink this, but I would prefer not to.

My spouse is traveling to Chicago for work next week, and I'll be joining for a weekend getaway. It felt fitting to sample a recently acquired bottle of a particular blend in preparation for the trip. The aroma was rather subtle – sherry, fruit, and malt. The palate featured more malt and fruit, with a significant oak presence. It was rich, bold, and full-bodied. The finish was hotter than anticipated for the age of the components, but not unpleasant. Overall, very nice, though it leans towards more oak than I prefer. Given the current price of around $100, I'm uncertain about purchasing it, despite the appealing label design and the connection to a Chicago establishment. Ultimately, I might consider allocating my funds to other offerings from the same blender. Regarding the establishment itself, my spouse has a business dinner the evening before our weekend begins, so I plan to visit and experience it firsthand. Hopefully, I'll gather some interesting stories about whiskey.

This special anniversary blend is uniquely self-referential. It includes a significant amount of whiskey that the blender previously bottled for a 20th anniversary, further matured in a refill hogshead. Additionally, it incorporates numerous sherry-aged single malts from across Scotland and a small quantity of light grain whisky. It is surprisingly reasonably priced at approximately $100 per bottle and is available at select retailers nationwide. If you cannot visit the bar it honors in Chicago, you can still try it. This spirit surpasses what a certain well-known sherried expression aims to be; it's a rich, intricate, sherry-matured dram deserving of careful consideration and enjoyment. Expect to find flavors such as strawberries, baking spices, cherries, caramel, honey, apple cider, pepper, cocoa nibs, and fruit-based desserts. I admit to a slight bias against whiskies matured in sherry casks, but this may be the finest example I have encountered.

Judging a Compass Box whisky is challenging, much like rating albums from a favorite musician. I've never regretted purchasing a Compass Box whisky. This one is no exception. Open your nose to sherry and fruity notes approaching the palate. Minimal peat and alcohol on the nose as well. Finally, notes of pie crust on the nose. On the palate, spices and cinnamon join fruit concentrate, like toppings on pancakes. The finish is what makes this exceptional, hitting differently like the climax of a rollercoaster with a long peppery finish. Very pleased with it and eager to acquire a bottle; highly recommended to try. That said, there are many other, less expensive Compass Box whiskies I would recommend before this. (elixir)

Tasted at Delilah’s bar in Chicago! An amazing place and an amazing whisky! I enjoyed it so much that I spoke with the owner of the place (Mike), a great guy, and he mentioned I could find a bottle at the local Binny’s if I asked the manager by his name. The next day, I went to Binny’s, and there was no CB Delilah’s XXV in sight... So I called the manager, told him Mike sent me, and a bottle just appeared as if by magic... Haha!;-) It was a month ago, but I recall this whisky being quite sherried, delicious, and incredibly smooth... So silky smooth that it lacked that extra punch that would have earned it 5 stars. (Perhaps due to the absence of European oak in this blend)