Last year Compass Box kicked off their new Extinct Blends four-part series, which reimagines different blends from the past, with a beautifully labelled Ultramarine, now they've launched their second release from the series - Delos.

Delos is inspired by Asyla, one of Compass Box's archived whiskies. "Asyla" comes from the word "Asylum" - a place of safety, sanctuary or retreat. Compass Box imagines this to be the Sanctuary Islands of Delos, which in Greek mythology is the birthplace of the god Apollo. On the ancient site of Delos are many mosaics, which inspire the new edition's label featuring a character playing a lyre in a Romanesque-style mosaic from the island of Delos.

The Asyla expression which has since been retired. (Image Source: Compass Box)

This pays homage to the original lute player featured on the label of Asyla. The transformation to the lyre on the new label is as the lyre is classically associated with Apollo.

"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."

- James Saxon, Lead Whiskmaker of Compass Box

This new edition makes use of whiskies from Cameronbridge (Single Grain), Miltonduff, Glen Elgin, and mothballed Imperial Distillery's whiskies, all aged in American oak barrels.

(Image Source: Compass Box)

Official Tasting Notes

Aroma

A delicacy that spreads to the nose with different waves of ripe pear, pineapple, orange essence and vanilla cream.

Taste

A mixture of fruit tarts and white chocolate reveals itself on the palate, while the maturity of the whiskeys that compose it gradually develops to reveal guava, heather honey and chai spices.

Overall

A long and greedy finish carried by exotic notes.

Island of Delos, where the god Apollo was mythically said to be from. (Image Source: Le Collectionist)

It is bottled at 49% ABV and will be available in February 2023, with a total outturn of 5,520 bottles available, going at 265 GBP per bottle. 

Lead image courtesy of Compass Box. 

Kanpai!

88 Bamboo Editorial Team