Compass Box has unveiled the third limited edition expression in its Extinct Blends Quartet, Metropolis. The new offering is inspired by a recently extinct blended Scotch whisky with a long history and a strong link to a Sir Walter Scott novel that references a number of urban centers.
Blended Scotch whisky has long historical ties to metropolitan centers, with blending vats in Glasgow and bottling in Edinburgh feeding the thirst for the spirit. With Metropolis, Compass Box looks to pay homage to the life and energy of cities by creating a blend that draws together shortbread and honey notes contributed by malt whiskies from the Ablerlour and Miltonduff distilleries, combined with a parcel of blended Scotch that is further matured in sherry butts. “This brings fattiness and dried fruit richness and acts as a bridge over a river of creamy and zesty grain whisky,” according to the brand. Finally, subtle scents of hot metal and smoke drifting from the shipyards arrive, courtesy of malt whisky from the Bowmore Distillery.
“With Metropolis, we continue to revive, recreate, and reimagine legendary whisky blends of the past,” says James Saxon, Compass Box lead whiskymaker. “The Extinct Blends Quartet celebrates discontinued characters and flavors, reappraising four very different expressions of blended Scotch. These exclusive blends pay homage to specific moments in time, where relationships, ideas and people created delicious whiskies.”
As with all Compass Box expressions, the whisky arrives with a captivating label from the design team at Stranger & Stranger. “For Metropolis, step into the throng of a striving city where industriousness jostles up against elaborate architecture; people and provisions from diverse places mingle, and commerce meets culture,” notes the design team.
Bottled at 49% ABV, just 5,190 bottles of Compass Box Extinct Blends Quartet Metropolis will be made available and are priced at $325 per 700ml bottle. For more information, head over to the brand’s official website.
In February, Compass Box unveiled the second release in its Extinct Blends Quartet, Delos.