Crafted from specially selected peated whiskies and those matured in custom French oak barrels, this new edition pushes boundaries while paying tribute to the Flaming Heart legacy. Debuting in 2006, the expression is a fusion of rich peat smoke and new French oak influence in complex layers. To mark its quarter-century milestone, Compass Box seeks to make the loudest flavor statement by using the fewest components, intensifying the whisky’s smoky heart while enriching its character through custom cask maturation.

Whereas previous editions have featured a proportion of unpeated whiskies aged in bourbon or sherry casks, this eighth rendition, at 97.8 proof, relies on an ensemble of peated whiskies and those extra-matured in custom French oak barrels, namely malt whisky from the Benrinnes Distillery malt whisky from the Talisker Distillery, malt whisky from the Laphroaig Distillery Single Malt and “Williamson” Islay Malt.

“This release isn’t just a nod to where we’ve been; it’s a declaration of where we’re headed,” says James Saxon, Whiskymaking Director at Compass Box. “The bold character of Flaming Heart: 25th Anniversary Edition reflects everything Compass Box stands for: daring innovation, craftsmanship, and our constant pursuit of unforgettable flavor.”

Music has been a constant theme behind the Flaming Heart releases, which take their name from M. Ward’s 2001 folk and blues classic. For Compass Box’s eighth Flaming Heart release, the label design focuses on flames and a protective chamber of oak. The two cherubs surrounding a burning heart that have traditionally appeared on the woodcut effect design since the 2010 edition, they now appear as coopers, inspecting an oaken structure inside which is the heart on fire – thus symbolizing Compass Box’s 25 years of whisky making passion.

Compass Box’s Flaming Heart: 25th Anniversary Edition is available now for $165.

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The new expression offers all the richness and drama of a night at the circus. Bottle-hunting travelers can discover the spectacle by visiting The Travelling Circus displays at New York’s John F. Kennedy Airport and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) until the end of August.

Inspired by The Circus, a Compass Box Limited Edition blend originally released in 2016, The Travelling Circus offers an enhanced peat presence courtesy of malt whisky from the Talisker Distillery and a parcel of peated blended Scotch whisky. The label design nods to the original The Circus, refreshing it through the filter of Futurism, which valorised movement and machines.

To create The Travelling Circus, Compass Box Whiskymaking Director James Saxon assembled whiskies bold in flavor and rich in texture. The majority of component whiskies have been aged in sherry casks. Smokiness from malt whiskies from the Talisker and Caol Ila distilleries are layered with Speyside sherry character, finished with grain whisky from the now-closed Port Dundas Distillery, resulting in a 98 proof expression.

“We are incredibly pleased with the arrival of The Travelling Circus,” says Compass Box Whiskymaking Director James Saxon. “The balance of sherry cask maturation and complex smokiness is something of a hallmark for Compass Box, and those who are fans of our whiskies will enjoy dissecting this latest composition. For those new to Compass Box, this is a globe-trotting introduction to the sorts of places we can explore when creatively combining high-quality Scotch whiskies.”

Compass Box’s The Travelling Circus Blended Scotch Whisky is available for $188 exclusively at duty-free shops.

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The final release in the Xpedition Series, a trilogy of whiskies inspired by the wild and its spirit of adventure, the expression was aged over four decades before being finished in ice-fractured oak casks, a new experiment in whisky craft and a first for Talisker.

Twelve of the Talisker distillery heavily-charred American Oak casks used to age this whisky were taken on a glacial voyage into Canada’s ice fields. A specialized cooper removed the ends of the casks, exposing them to sub-zero temperatures and biting Arctic winds for 96 hours. This allowed the extreme cold to fracture the wood, which in turn increased the surface area of the casks, altering the liquid’s interactions with the casks during the finishing period in Scotland.

This journey to the ice fields was taken hand-in-hand with Talisker’s partner, Parley For the Oceans, and led by glacier scientist Dr. Alison Criscitiello. The team traversed across wild terrain and into ice caves, where Dr. Criscitiello helped the team understand how the planet’s ecosystems are interconnected, from the glacial fields of Canada to the sea surrounding the Talisker distillery’s home on the Isle of Skye off Northwest Scotland. This is the third year of Talisker’s collaboration with Parley to support their organization’s protection and preservation of marine ecosystems globally, with a portion of the funds from Talisker Glacial Edge 45-Year-Old sales donated to support this cause.

“From glacial ice to kelp forests, everything is interconnected and our world is changing faster than we know,” said Cyrill Gutsch, Founder and CEO, Parley for the Oceans. “Deep down, we all understand that we must rapidly transform how we create, think and live together. This limited-edition 45-Year-Old Whisky is an opportunity to tell the story of a fast-changing environment within a product shaped by time and nature, while supporting more of the climate research, activism and human connection that is urgently needed.”

The first was Talisker Xpedition Oak 43-Year-Old released in 2021, aged in casks that used wooden staves which crossed the Atlantic. In 2022, the distillery released Talisker Forests of the Deep 44-Year-Old, finished in staves that were brought onboard an expedition to one of the world’s largest kelp forests and finished in barrels charred with sustainably farmed sea kelp.

The lineup is complete with the release of Talisker Glacial Edge 45-Year-Old in 2023. The distillery’s first-ever release of a 45-year-old Single Malt Scotch Whisky unearths new, resilient depths of the Talisker character. Revealing unexplored richness, complexity and a unique untamed flavor attributed to the whisky’s deep travels into the splinters of its American Oak ex-Bourbon barrels, this whisky embodies both spiced and sweet aromas.

Talisker Glacial Edge Aged 45 Years Single Malt Scotch Whisky is available for $5,000.

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This annual collection of eight rare and collectible single malts selected by Diageo Master Blender Dr. Stuart Morrison celebrates each distillery’s unique characteristics and the company’s robust portfolio. It also features unique casks and finishes that honor local cultures.

“This year, we’re proudly revealing our new series of distillery-first expressions: Spirited Xchange Special Releases 2023,” said Diageo Master Blender Dr. Stuart Morrison. “For me, Spirited Xchange is about identifying and celebrating the ideas, flavors, and tastes that surround us each day and inspire our curiosity to create. This collection has given us the opportunity to roam freely through our vast portfolio and experiment with old and new cask types, including various wine and local spirits casks to create eight one-of-a-kind expressions that we’ve never imagined before.”

Spirited Xchange comes to life through its pack designs, illustrated by eight artists across the globe – each one dedicated to the distilleries and the spirits in the collection. The artworks are visual tasting notes, placing the expression at the centre of the experience and exploring the flavors that emerge from the local spirit casks.

Lagavulin ‘The Ink of Legends’ is finished in a combination of Don Julio Añejo tequila casks and honors the art of tattooing and the smokiness of the Islay distillery. $170

Mortlach ‘The Katana’s Edge’ is finished in ex-Kanosuke Japanese whisky and ex-Pinot Noir casks and is illustrated with a golden gleam that represents the flash of umami that cuts through the expression. SRP: $280

The Singleton ‘The Silken Gown’ is finished in Chardonnay de Bourgogne French Oak casks and is characterized by textures of a luminous and enchanting silk gown. SRP: $135

Talisker ‘The Wild Explorador’ is finished in a combination of White, Tawny and Ruby Port Casks and is embodied by an iconic Portuguese vessel. SRP: $135

Roseisle Distillery has joined the Special Releases Collection for the first time with its first public release, ‘The Origami Kite’. SRP: $150

Glenkinchie ‘The Floral Treasure’ 27 Year Old expression is one of its most mature bottlings to date. SRP: $400

Oban ‘The Soul of Calypso’ is finished in Caribbean pot still rum casks and highlights the essence of the Caribbean. SRP: $140

Clynelish ‘The Jazz Crescendo’ is maturation in ex-bourbon American Oak casks which gives its Southern charm. SRP: $200

Digeo’s Spirited Xchange Special Releases Scotch Whisky Collection is available in limited quantities at retail and on malts.com now.

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A collection of six limited-edition single malts from some of Scotland’s most iconic distilleries, the Distiller Edition Collection is an annual release of rare whiskies that are double-matured in different types of casks, chosen to complement the characteristics of each mature spirit. 

To honor the preciousness of the liquids, only one batch of each whisky is produced per year. The latest collection takes this one step further, featuring a new label design for each malt which incorporates elements representative of each distillery and its core expressions.

Diageo’s 2023 Distillers Edition series includes Cragganmore Distillers Edition ($85), Glenkinchie Distillers Edition ($85), Talisker Distillers Edition ($85), Oban Distillers Edition ($95), Dalwhinnie Distillers Edition ($90), and Lagavulin Distillers Edition ($125).

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Peat Monster Arcana is the result of a long-running experiment into the secrets and mysteries of oak and smoke. A cask strength version of The Peat Monster was further matured in three French oak custom casks for more than two years; it was then blended with malt whiskies from the Talisker, Miltonduff and Ardbeg distilleries in order to complement the richly spicy and more subtly smoky profile that developed.

“We have been experimenting with French oak since the early days of our company,” says Compass Box Founder and Whiskymaker John Glaser. “Peat Monster Arcana is the first Compass Box to feature smoky whiskies matured in French oak. We’re delighted to be able to build on this experiment in our 20th anniversary year and we hope dedicated fans of The Peat Monster discover a new side to this charismatic whisky.”

Peat Monster Arcana joins limited edition releases Hedonism Felicitas and Rogues’ Banquet to celebrate the anniversary. James Saxon, lead whiskymaker for Peat Monster Arcana says: “it is a truly delicious release and one that has taught us so much about the influence of French oak. Of course, there will always be further mysteries to explore.”

Peat Monster Arcana Tasting Notes:

Only 3,900 bottles Peat Monster Arcana will be available in the U.S. for $95.

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