Bottle price guide: ● £11-25 (US$17-40) ●● £26-70 (US$40-110) ●●● £71-120 (US$110-190) ●●●● £121-180 (US$190-280) ●●●●● £181 plus (US$280 plus)
Taster biographies
Bethany Whymark
After studying English literature at university, Bethany worked as a journalist for regional newspaper groups before moving to the spirits industry. She was appointed as editor of Whisky Magazine in 2022, having previously edited its sister titles Gin and Rum. She is also editor of annual publications Travelux and Scotch Whisky.
Christopher Coates
A member of the team since 2013 and a keen whisky drinker long before that, Christopher served as Whisky Magazine’s Scotch whisky editor before being appointed as editor in 2020. In 2022, he was named editor-at-large and now writes a regular column for this title, in addition to his role as a blind taster. He is also chair of judges for the World Whiskies Awards and Icons of Whisky competitions.
THE PROCESS
• All samples are blind tasted, with ABV, country/region and style the only information disclosed• Samples are tasted individually over a two-week period• Tasters work to tasting and scoring guidelines in order to assess samples consistently• The top-scoring sample is awarded Editor’s Choice• Samples receiving scores of 16.5+ receive a Recommended award
Compass Box
Delos
COMPASS BOX
ABV: 49%
Style: Blended
Country: SCOTLAND
Region: N/A
Price per bottle:
Bottling: Independent
Availability: Worldwide
Bethany
Nose: Buttery caramels and vanilla sponge cake. Tinned pears and a little nutmeg. Apple slices with almond butter. A crunchy florality like dandelions or marigolds. Orange marmalade.
Palate: Light-medium. Vanilla sponge, studded with toffee apple chunks. A hint of bitter coffee. Baked pears and blossom honey. Nutty rye bread, praline biscuits, candied peel, and a touch of mace.
Finish: Short, with salted caramel and floral notes, but some warmth lingers.
Comments: Good complexity matched with a nice softness of character.
8.0
Christopher
Nose: Strawberry laces, blackcurrant wine gums, freshly sawn oak and distinctive dunnage aromas. Malted milk biscuit, whey powder, white chocolate. With time, peach hard candies. Subtle herbal notes.
Palate: Medium-bodied. Heightened herbal element evocative of thyme. Then cherry candy, black and rooibos teas honey, bergamot orange, and a little lime pickle. Treacle tart with whipped cream.
Finish: Long on subtle herbal, floral and nutty notes. Just a touch of cucumber.
