🥃 Whisky Auctioneer

2020 Rating

Chicago Mike Miller opened his punk rock whisky bar Delilah’s in Chicago in 1993. I has been open every single day ever since. You can find more than 1.000 beers and spirits. Even the Belgian Oerbier and Duvel are served. In 2013, for the 20th anniversary, Compass Box created Delilah’s, a special blend. It was very popular and so it was re-created again in 2018, albeit with an extra maturation on sherry casks. It contains approximately 10% grain whisky – I presume Cameronbrigde. The result is this Delilah’s XXV. If you are expecting a sherry bomb, think again. I get mostly baked apples with cinnamon, candied ginger and a pinch of nutmeg, some laurel and lots of caramel paste. The sherry influence is rather limited, but the nose is quite pleasant all the same. The body is fine and so is the strength. Now the spices arrive first, with cloves and nutmeg in the lead, followed by sherry notes in the guise of candied orange peel and cherry candy. A bit too candy-like to my taste, but far from bad. Hint of milk chocolate with pieces of candied fruit and nuts in the mix, like Cadbury’s. The finish is spicy, medium long and softly drying. A very pleasant and approachable whisky. One to share with friends on Christmas Eve. In Chicago, obviously.

Tasting notes from an online tasting with 15 participants Nose; Fruit compote Creamy, sherry, delicate wood notes toffee Smell like banana Caramel Sorbet, cream, whipped cream Anke tastes mildly caramel Unfortunately disappears too quickly 65 points Christmassy, cardamom, clove nutmeg ... I find it nicely balanced Taste: already beautifully full-bodied for its 46%, delicate spicy notes, vanilla, fruity aftertaste, hint of walnut shell still has strength for 46% easy to drink Nice flavor and a macadamia nut finish find him good some cocoa at the end On average 83.5 points also from me 83 points 85 points from us 85 points from me 85 points 80 points Cut 84 points

I liked that this blend revealed itself in multiple steps. The spicy side, bourbon middle and the soft chocolate all contribute to a nice evolution.

Compass Box Delilah's XXV, BSW, 46%. Consumed Sep 2021. Yellow gold. Aroma – strong impressions of musty, savoury - almost meaty - oak and buttered toasted rye bread. Weaker impressions of spiky aromatic peppercorn and faint menthol, soapy water. Given time it builds a fair amount of vanilla, which brings a chocolate vibe but also a reedy or straw-like one. Interesting. On first impression I thought it was going to be a bit spiky with tired oak, but it settles and becomes quite pleasant and complex. There’s some fun to be had on sniffing this. Body is light oil. Taste on the first sip is salt and buttery plain biscuits, minty alcohol with some faint floral or fruity esters hanging around in the background. Pretty clean and easy on subsequent sips. Always has a woody vanilla note. Quite simple taste-wise but enjoyable. Delivers a lot more interest on the nose than in the mouth but it’s solid throughout. £110 RRP for a good but not wonderful NAS is a bit steep, but that’s the way of the world at the moment. This is certainly a good whisky though. 3.525/84

Pretty nice. It’s quite sweet, so definitely a dessert whisky. That combined with the small amount of grain whisky and good dose of oak give it a real bourbon-like quality. It’s still obviously a scotch, of course, but still. I do love all the pastry notes on the nose. The finish, too, has this luscious creaminess that really elevates the dram. I can’t decide if this whisky is an afternoon tea or a Sunday morning breakfast. Nose: Sweet and plush. Lots of pastries. Custardy brioche French toast, dusted with cinnamon and drizzled with maple syrup. Or maybe maple-syrup-soaked blueberry pancakes? Icing-sugar-glazed lemon squares? Cranberry-studded scones? Shorbread cookies with raspberry jam? All of the above, I think. Vanilla, golden syrup. Some peach and melon slices. Palate: Medium texture. Lemon and a touch of grain up front, then more sweet cereals and pastries. Honey granola and toasted oats. Lots of oak and vanilla in the middle, very bourbon-y. Some black tea, cloves, and grapefruit towards the back. Finish: Fairly long, with a thick mouth-coating creamy effect. Loads of buttery shortbread and whipped cream, vanilla, slivered almonds, and milk chocolate. Sweet bourbon-soaked oak and more of those maple-soaked pancakes.

Very nice, layered, complex whisky. I’m missing a bit of a “hook” though. http://awhiskyjourney.com

Nose Certainly dominated by the feel of sherry, the sense of alcohol is normal at first and almost vanishes after leaving it for 10 minutes. A very strong touch of vanilla and fresh fruit, along with a hint of cream and almonds. Palate Fruity, sweet, strong touch of barley, sherry, leather, spice, and vanilla, and slight citrus and wood. Finish Med-Long. Mostly barley, leather, and spice, also a hint of wood.

I think the nose and the mouth feeling is the best part of the whisky. Overall quite enjoyable and an easy drinker. Sweet, so ideal for dessert. maybe a bit too simple for the price range, but enjoyable.