Compass Box Delilah’s XXV Review

I really enjoyed the original CB Delilah’s and so when I got the opportunity to try the new Compass Box Delilah’s XXV limited release I was excited. The original wasn’t deeply complex or anything like that, it was just an extremely solid, tasty and sippable whisky so in my head an older version had to be even better… right?

Compass Box Delilah's XXV

There are a lot of independent bottlers out there who will put out a blend from time to time, but it’s not their focus, and sometime’s they’ll create a hit, but often a miss. The beauty of Compass Box is that they set out from the beginning to be the best blending house they possibly could be. To create something that is more than the sum of its parts and I’ve always admired them for taking that road and doing it so well.

Compass Box Delilah’s XXV Review: Details and Tasting Notes

Compass Box Delilah's XXV is a longer aged tribute the original Delilah's whisky and to the famous Chicago bar itself. A great sip for whisky lovers and Compass Box fans alike.

In Compass Box’s Words: Compass Box Delilah’s XXV

The recipe for our second homage to Delilah’s was built around a small parcel of the original Compass Box Delilah’s blend released in 2013 – a luscious, American oak-aged whisky that we aged in cask for a further five years – with the addition of malt whisky aged in Spanish Sherry casks, also made of American oak.

Compass Box Delilah’s XXV price, ABV, age and other details

Region: Scotland

Blender: Compass Box
Blend: Delilah’s 20th Anniversary (29%, Refill Hogg), Cameron Bridge (10.5%, ex-Bourbon), Miltonduff (10.5%, ex-Bourbon), Teaninich (20%, ex-Sherry), Aberlour (15%, ex-Sherry), Linkwood (15%, ex-Sherry)
Casks: Refill Hogshead, ex-Bourbon (first fill), ex-Sherry (first fill)
Age: NAS
ABV: 46%

Non-Chill Filtered | Natural Color

Batch: XXV LE

Price: $100

Compass Box Delilah’s XXV Tasting Notes

EYE
Rose gold

NOSE
Apricots, sherry, orchard fruit, cocoa, dark fruit, char, Tootsie Rolls, strawberry Necco, citric acid and a bit of spice.

PALATE
Apricots, sherry, orchard fruit, graham, spice, leather, cocoa, ash, citrus and a touch of vanilla.

FINISH
Med-Long -> Sherry, oak, ash, Necco and vanilla.

BALANCE, BODY & FEEL
Good balance, round body and a velvety feel.

Compass Box Delilah’s XXV Review: OVERALL

Compass Box Delilah's XXV Review

I enjoyed the original Delilah’s quite a bit, it was tasty and fun, but this… this beat it. The Compass Box Delilah’s XXV is an elegant, more elevated riff on the original, which I had around a mid-high B. This is richer, denser and more delicious in every way.

The aroma is fruity and malty with a kick of sherry; the palate is very similar but with a layer of char; the finish is a nice velvety fade of that malty sherry sweetness. Honestly, there’s nothing to not like about this whisky. Definitely recommend it.

SCORE: 88/100 (B+)

Thanks to Bozzy for the taste and sample.