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Compass Box
Scotland
This blended malt from the ever-inventive Compass Box folks if perfect for whisky fans who love a well-sherried dram. Inspired by working on a whisky with The Spaniard bar in New York City, this expression is built around whisky drawn from sherry and Spanish red wine casks. To get all number-y up in here, 48% of the whisky was aged in ex-sherry casks, while a further 25% was aged in ex-Spanish red wine casks.
Ripe blood orange and toasted vanilla pod. A few hints of fresh malt in the background.
Sponge cake, chocolate chip and raisin cookies, almond.
Dried cherry, cinnamon and menthol.
Golden syrup in colour, it is indeed a huge sherry bomb on the initial nosing. It's also a little bit fiery and prickly, a spicy nose. Cinnamon, a little pepper. Alongside this there's a little butterscotch and vanilla, and apple/citrus. It's very warming in the mouth, and has a thick mouth feel. In the mouth the sherried dried fruits come to to fore with a huge whack of walnuts. It's a mouth tingler, with the spice amplifying with every swish. The finish is medium, but strong while it lasts. Not sure how else to say it, but cough sweets. Nose clearing, mentho-lyptus. It's an odd mix for sure. Not amazing as far too schizophrenic an experience. Is it drinkable....sure it's not unpleasant just wacky.
My daughter bought me the 3 x 5cl box which included The Story Of The Spaniard whisky .... by far the best whisky I have ever tasted (have not tried the others in the box yet)
This whisky makes a great fuss about sherry casks and spanish wine casks, but their overall impact is very subdued, the nose is pure prickle and biscuit, the whisky smooth, biscuity and quite pleasant. The Spaniard is actually quite a light gold in colour. There are no raisins or sherry darkness about this whisky. There is quite a lot of warmth to this and a lack of length of finish beyond some menthol or vicks vapour rub. Overall a disappointment really for my fist compass box blended malt purchase. The best part is the box....great imagery.
For Compass Box, this one is just a tad schizophrenic. If I were sampling this blind, I would swear that it was a conventional malt/grain blend. The nose and taste would seem to indicate a high percentage of mostly young malt but the overall sweetness speaks to me of grain whisky filler, even if it isn't actually there. There's a hint of older tobacco/leather flavor notes that elevates the experience a bit, but the younger whisky (beginning with a slightly fiery nose) predominates all the way through and leads to a short finish. Contrary to the description on the bottle, the fruity, sherry/red wine cask component is rather subdued. Overall, not bad... but not great. Bottom line: for the price I'll be buying of bottle of Spice Tree next time.
Approachable by anyone with a sweet palate and smooth sweet lightly peppery finish. The price is a concern as there are equally great vatted I mean blended malts that provide as much punch on the palate for cheaper. Overall very good introduction to a spey and highland blend.
£5.65 - £53.50