Compass Box Celebrates Chicago Punk Institution With New Whisky
Compass Box today announces its latest limited edition release, Delilah’s XXV. Named after Chicago’s famous punk rock whisky bar, Delilah’s, the new Scotch Whisky is the result of a second collaboration between owner Mike Miller and Whiskymaker John Glaser. In celebration of the bar’s forthcoming 25th Anniversary in August, the whisky is based around a parcel of the original Compass Box Delilah’s blend released in 2013. Mike remarks:
“The first release was special to us as it brought together two passionate communities with a lot in common, so we’re really excited to be able to do that again and share this next release with the world. After we did the first release, I was sent a photo of a guy in Shanghai with his arms around some bartenders and a bottle of Delilah’s on the bar. I knew that the community of Delilah’s existed in that bar. We changed the conversation there, and that person had a better time in China because of his affiliation with Delilah’s and with Compass Box.”
Glaser and Miller first collaborated to honour the 20th Anniversary of Delilah’s in 2013 when the two created a whisky with a twist on more traditional Scotch. The result was a style of whisky equally suited to sipping neat and served as a shot with a great beer – the way a lot of whisky is enjoyed at Delilah’s. The original recipe combined single malt and single grain whiskies aged in a mix of experimental new American oak barrels, which gave it a pronounced sweetness. While the majority was bottled for the limited edition release, Glaser returned a small parcel of this Blended Scotch Whisky to casks for further maturation. When talks of the bar’s 25th anniversary celebrations began, the pair knew just where to start.
After aging for a further five years in cask, this parcel forms the base of the new recipe. Miller suggested adding malt whisky aged in Spanish Sherry casks, also made of American oak, to complement the rich vanilla and toffee character the original parcel developed over the past five years. The final blend is a characterful whisky with notes of vanilla and spice, and rich Sherry wine character reminiscent of dried fruits and baking spices.
Commenting on the collaboration, John adds:
“Compass Box and Delilah’s share an ethos about doing things you love and on your terms. This is what brought Mike and me together years ago and it’s why our continued collaboration is so much fun and so gratifying.”
Bottled at 46% ABV, a total of 8,520 bottles of Delilah’s XXV will be released worldwide – launching first in Europe where it will be available in select specialty retailers from May 2018 and in the US from June 2018 at £100 / $100 SRP.