Compass Box Delos

"Delos," the second release in the Extinct Blends Quartet by Ultramarine, is a whisky that pays homage to the lost Asyla blend, named after a Mediterranean island central to Ancient Greek religion. Here's a breakdown of its story and flavor profile:

Inspiration: Asyla, one of Ultramarine's lost whiskies, originally combined malt and grain whiskies aged in American oak barrels. However, due to the unavailability of the required components, Asyla had to be retired from the core range in 2018.

Composition: Delos returns to whiskies aged in American oak, but with a different balance. It features a greater percentage of malt whiskies and a higher bottling strength, resulting in a fruitier palate and richer texture. Additionally, the component whiskies are older, including those from the Cameronbridge and Glen Elgin distilleries, as well as some of the last remaining casks from the closed Imperial Distillery.

Flavor Profile: Delos offers a sweet succulence with notes of ripe pear, pineapple, orange oil, and vanilla cream on the nose. On the palate, it presents a medley of fruit tarts and white chocolate, gradually revealing guava, heather honey, and chai spices as the maturity of the whiskies unfolds.

Recipe: The composition of Delos includes malt whisky from the Imperial distillery (33.4%), malt whisky from the Glen Elgin distillery (28.5%), malt whisky from the Miltonduff distillery (21.2%), and grain whisky from the Cameronbridge distillery (26.9%), each aged in first-fill Bourbon barrels or re-charred American Oak barrels.

Overall, Delos represents a harmonious blend of history, craftsmanship, and flavor, offering a journey of exploration and discovery for whisky enthusiasts.