Compass Box Metropolis 700ML

Compass Box Metropolis 700ML is a limited-edition blended Scotch whisky bottled at 49% ABV (700ml) as part of the Extinct Blends Quartet series. With roughly 5,190 bottles produced worldwide, this expression draws on some of Compass Box's rarest and most mature cask stocks to reimagine a beloved but long-vanished blended Scotch.

Quick Facts: ABV: 49%  |  Origin: Scotland  |  Style: Blended Scotch Whisky (Limited Edition)  |  Producer: Compass Box Whisky Company

Production & Heritage

Compass Box, the London-based blending house founded by John Glaser in 2000, has earned a reputation for transparency and creative blending. Metropolis belongs to the Extinct Blends Quartet, a series that reimagines four of Glaser's favorite discontinued blended Scotches using rare and idiosyncratic whisky stocks. The recipe is strikingly layered: 25.8% blended malt Scotch whisky aged in a refill sherry butt, 25.1% Aberlour single malt from a re-charred American oak barrel, 20.5% blended grain aged in refill bourbon barrels, 16.6% Miltonduff single malt from first-fill bourbon barrels, 7.1% Bowmore single malt from a refill bourbon barrel, and 4.9% blended Scotch aged primarily in first-fill bourbon wood. The whisky is bottled at natural color without chill filtration, preserving the full breadth of texture and flavor each component contributes.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Vanilla leads the way, followed by a layered wave of different honeys — heather, acacia, and wildflower all seem present. Behind the sweetness, fudge, apricot, and pineapple unfold gradually, with fresh fig emerging as the glass opens up.

Taste: The palate enters rich and immediately complex, with sultana and apricot dominating the early sip. Mid-palate, toffee and caramel mingle with berry fruit and a subtle smokiness courtesy of the Bowmore component. A gentle woody spice and vanilla undertone carry through toward the finish, with the grain whisky adding a silky, almost creamy mouthfeel that knits the malt parcels together.

Finish: Long and sweet with pleasing weight, the finish lingers with warm spice and a trailing wisp of smoke. The interplay between the sherry-matured richness and bourbon-barrel sweetness stays balanced well after the last sip.

How to Drink Metropolis

Given its limited production and 49% ABV, Metropolis is best enjoyed neat or with a few drops of water to open the complex layering of its six component whiskies. The higher proof handles dilution gracefully, revealing new fruit and spice dimensions as it evolves in the glass. For those inclined toward cocktails: a Rob Roy benefits from the whisky's sherry-cask richness and smoky undertone; a Blood and Sand pairs naturally with the apricot and berry-fruit notes already present in the blend; and a Penicillin lets the Bowmore smoke thread complement the ginger-honey framework of the drink.

Best For

• Collectors seeking limited-edition Compass Box releases
• Gifting a blended Scotch enthusiast who values transparency and craft
• Side-by-side tastings exploring the diversity of Scotch whisky regions in a single glass
• After-dinner sipping where layered complexity rewards slow, deliberate nosing

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Metropolis taste like? Metropolis delivers a rich, fruit-forward profile dominated by apricot, sultana, toffee, and vanilla, with a subtle smoky undertone from its Bowmore malt component. The finish is long, sweet, and gently spiced.

How does Metropolis compare to Bailie Nicol Jarvie? Metropolis was specifically inspired by the now-extinct Bailie Nicol Jarvie blend, which Compass Box founder John Glaser admired. While the original is no longer in production, Metropolis reimagines its character using Compass Box's own rare cask stocks, resulting in a higher-proof, more complex modern interpretation.

Is Metropolis good for sipping neat? At 49% ABV with natural color and no chill filtration, Metropolis is built for neat sipping. A few drops of water can further unlock its layered fruit, smoke, and spice dimensions.

Where is Metropolis made? Metropolis is produced by Compass Box Whisky Company, a blending house based in London, England. The component whiskies are sourced from Scottish distilleries including Aberlour and Miltonduff in Speyside and Bowmore on Islay, then blended and bottled in Scotland.

What foods pair well with Metropolis? Dark chocolate truffles complement the toffee and vanilla sweetness. Aged Comté or Gruyère cheese highlights the whisky's nutty, caramel undertones. Dried fruit and nut platters echo the apricot and sultana notes. Smoked salmon works with the subtle Bowmore peat. A sticky toffee pudding mirrors the fudge and honey richness on the nose.

What sizes does Metropolis come in? Compass Box Metropolis is available in the standard 700ml bottle size.

Is Metropolis worth the price? Metropolis positions as a premium limited-edition release, with only around 5,190 bottles produced worldwide. Its use of rare, mature stocks from multiple distinguished distilleries and its place in the collectible Extinct Blends Quartet series place it firmly in the upper tier of blended Scotch offerings.

Why Metropolis?

What distinguishes Metropolis from typical blended Scotch is the ambition behind its construction. Six distinct whisky parcels — spanning Speyside richness, Islay smoke, and mature grain whisky — are combined in precise proportions that Compass Box discloses with characteristic transparency. The Extinct Blends Quartet concept itself is unusual in the industry: rather than simply releasing another limited blend, Compass Box set out to resurrect the spirit of vanished whiskies using their own cellar of rare casks. With limited global availability and a bottling strength that preserves full flavor intensity, Metropolis rewards serious whisky drinkers who value both provenance and complexity in a single pour.