If you’re looking for blended Scotch whisky that’s a little “outside the box” there are few better brands to turn to than Compass Box. Its Peat Monster has become the centerpiece of many mixologist’s smoky cocktails and the brand—founded by, gasp, an American—hasn’t been afraid to run afoul of regulators’ outdated or suppressive rules. Now, the London-based whisky maker is continuing its tradition of great and unique releases with the launch of Celestial, the final bottling in their Extinct Blends Quartet.
Launched a little less than two years ago, the Extinct Blends Quartet pays homage to some of Compass Box's favorite historic bottles. Blended whiskies from the past are often quite different from today's versions, even when they’re from the same brand. The Extinct Blends Quartet reimagined four classic blended Scotches, using some of the company's rarest stocks of whisky. The first three bottlings in the collection were Ultramarine, Delos, and Metropolis.
Inspired by a whisky produced in the 1950s and 1960s, Celestial is the peatiest release in the Extinct Blends Quartet. The brand drew upon whiskies from the Ardbeg and Caol Ila distilleries that feature tar notes that meld with an herbal character to create a signature interpretation of an older style of smoky Scotch whisky.
“Celestial’s flavor profile elicits heavyweight peat smoke,” says James Saxon, director of whisky making at Compass Box. “Behind that is a gingery richness, notes of vanilla and grilled apples. The palate is dry and oak-forward, with meaty smokiness flowing onto cooked tropical fruits.”
For the final expression in the collection, Compass Box looked to capture an epic flight through the night sky, the home of the celestial body of Pegasus. That inspiration can be found on the label design, which depicts a dramatic sky with billowing clouds and the glittering constellation.
Bottled at 50 percent ABV, just 5,532 bottles are released worldwide, priced at $375. It's available for purchase on the Compass Box website.
Courtesy of Compass Box
Related: We've Tasted Hundreds of Scotch Whiskies. These 16 Bottles Are the Best of 2024
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