Compass Box Ultramarine 700ML

Compass Box Ultramarine 700ML is a limited-edition blended Scotch whisky bottled at 51% ABV (102 proof) in a 700ml format. Part of Compass Box's Extinct Blends Quartet, this release is one of just 5,430 bottles produced worldwide, drawing from eleven different whisky sources to reimagine the character of iconic luxury blends from the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Quick Facts: ABV: 51%  |  Origin: Scotland (Islay, Speyside, Lowlands)  |  Limited Edition  |  Blender: Compass Box Whisky Company

Production & Heritage

Compass Box, founded in 2000 by John Glaser in London, has built its reputation on innovative blending philosophy and radical transparency in Scotch whisky. Ultramarine is blended from eleven distinct parcels, with key malt components sourced from Caol Ila on Islay and Glendullan in Speyside, alongside grain whiskies from Cameronbridge and Girvan in the Lowlands. The malt whiskies were matured in first-fill sherry-seasoned butts and refill bourbon barrels, while the grain components spent time in recharred hogsheads and first-fill bourbon barrels. The final blend is bottled non-chill filtered and at natural color, preserving the full texture and complexity of the component whiskies. Glaser has stated his inspiration was the style of a well-known luxury blended Scotch — widely understood to be Johnnie Walker Blue Label — as it tasted in its earliest bottlings, a profile he believes has since shifted away from its original character.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Toffee and antique polished oak arrive first, followed by a layered peatiness that carries earthy smoke, sherried sweetness, and drizzles of caramel. Warm oaky vanilla and a subtle salinity develop as the whisky opens in the glass.

Taste: The entry is rich and full-bodied, with roasted pecan, dark raisins, and grilled stone fruit building across the mid-palate. Integrated smoke weaves through notes of spiced fruitcake and dark chocolate, while citrus peel and a flash of white pepper provide brightness and lift. At 51% ABV, the texture is substantial without being aggressive, and a few drops of water unlock additional layers of floral honey and herbal complexity.

Finish: Long and layered, with lingering barbeque smoke, smoked almonds, and bittersweet cocoa slowly giving way to warm spice and black tea. The peat remains present but elegant throughout, never dominating the sherried sweetness beneath.

How to Drink Ultramarine

Ultramarine is best enjoyed neat or with a small splash of water to open up the interplay between peat and sherry cask influence — the 51% ABV responds well to gradual dilution. Given its limited availability and complexity, cocktail use is uncommon, but the blend's structure can hold its own in a Penicillin, where the smoky-sweet profile amplifies the cocktail's ginger-honey backbone. A Rob Roy with sweet vermouth would highlight the dark fruit and spice notes. For a simpler serve, an Old Fashioned with demerara syrup lets the oak and toffee character shine.

Best For

• Gifting a Scotch enthusiast who appreciates rare or limited-edition releases
• Adding a collectible bottle to a blended Scotch library
• Hosting a tasting session comparing modern luxury blends to their historical counterparts
• Celebrating a milestone occasion with a whisky meant to be savored slowly

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Ultramarine taste like? Ultramarine delivers roasted pecan, dark raisins, and integrated peat smoke layered over sherried sweetness, dark chocolate, and warm baking spice. The finish is long, smoky, and anchored by black tea and toasted almond notes.

How does Ultramarine compare to Johnnie Walker Blue Label? Compass Box founder John Glaser has stated that Ultramarine was inspired by the style of early Johnnie Walker Blue Label bottlings from the late 1980s and early 1990s, a profile he felt had evolved away from its original richness. Ultramarine is bottled at a higher 51% ABV versus Blue Label's standard 40%, and its non-chill-filtered presentation delivers a denser texture and more pronounced peat influence.

Is Ultramarine good for sipping neat? Absolutely — it was designed for contemplative neat drinking, and its 51% ABV and non-chill-filtered bottling deliver a full-bodied, layered experience that unfolds beautifully over time with or without a few drops of water.

Where is Ultramarine made? Ultramarine is blended and bottled by Compass Box Whisky Company, based in London, using component whiskies distilled at Caol Ila (Islay), Glendullan (Speyside), Cameronbridge (Lowlands), and Girvan (Lowlands) in Scotland.

What foods pair well with Ultramarine? Smoked salmon or smoked duck breast mirrors the blend's peat character. Aged Comté or Gruyère cheese complements the toffee and oak notes. Dark chocolate truffles echo the cocoa tones in the finish. Grilled lamb with rosemary draws out the herbal and smoky dimensions, and dried fruit and nut platters harmonize with the sherry cask sweetness.

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

Is Ultramarine worth the price? Ultramarine positions firmly in the ultra-premium tier, justified by its limited production of only 5,430 bottles worldwide, its use of rare and idiosyncratic cask stocks, and its place within the collectible Extinct Blends Quartet series — a strong proposition for serious Scotch collectors and Compass Box devotees.

Why Ultramarine?

What separates Ultramarine from the crowded field of blended Scotch is its explicit ambition: to resurrect a flavor profile that no longer exists in the commercial market. John Glaser built this blend from eleven carefully selected parcels — including sherry-matured Speyside malt and peated Islay malt — to reconstruct what he considered the golden-era character of luxury Scotch blending. Limited to 5,430 bottles and released as part of the Extinct Blends Quartet alongside three other reimagined expressions, Ultramarine functions both as a standalone whisky of serious depth and as a historical argument about how blended Scotch has changed over the past three decades. For drinkers who want something beyond a well-marketed brand name — a bottle with a thesis behind it — this is one of Compass Box's most intellectually and sensorially rewarding releases.