Compass Box Scotch Trapezes to New Heights With Sherry-Finished Traveling Circus Bottling

Compass Box is adding yet another limited-edition scotch to its portfolio with a reinterpretation of 2016’s The Circus expression. This time around, however, the high-flying spirit will touch down exclusively in travel retail locations.

On Tuesday, the bottler unveiled The Travelling Cirus Blended Scotch Whisky, a 49%-ABV expression composed of spirits from Talisker and Caol Ila distilleries as well as the now-defunct Port Dundas Distillery. Aged in first-fill sherry casks, the scotch is said to balance a palate of textured malt, deep fruitiness and dry smokiness that the brand has likened to “the grandeur and vibrancy of a night at the circus.”

Unlike the original Circus bottling, which featured a richly detailed 1930s-inspired label, The Traveling Circus abstracts its colorful design through the filter of Futurism. Those hoping to pick up the eye-catching release will should prepare for some spirited hunting; bottles are now available exclusively at duty-free shops in JFK and LAX airports, where they can be found at $188 through the end of August. It’s currently unknown how many bottles have been released to market.

“We’re really excited about our growing partnership with DFS and the USA has always been a priority market for us, so this feels like the perfect time to release an utterly delicious travel-retail exclusive to capture the hearts and taste buds of those traveling through LAX and JFK,” Compass Box CEO Maurice Doyle remarked in a news release.

Since its inception in 2000, Compass Box has garnered a reputation for grandiose gestures and lofty goals. Its inaugural Hedonsim expression was recently brought back after nearly 25 years in retirement; elsewhere, the brand debuted a quintet of “extinct” blends that attempted to recreate long-lost bottlings from centuries past. Perusing its varied portfolio, we’ve been especially impressed by releases like the floral-tinged 3 Year Deluxe and pleasantly ashy No Name.

Compass Box is the brainchild of John Glaser, a former marketing director at Johnnie Walker. In February, Glaser stepped down from his leadership role within the company and is now succeeded by whisky-making director James Saxon.

“We are incredibly pleased with the arrival of The Travelling Circus,” Saxon said. “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.”

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