Review

Compass Box Spice Tree Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
46% ABV
$55 to $65
Website

What the Blender Says:
Our storied malt whisky The Spice Tree is made from Highland malt whiskies which we age in custom-made casks fitted with new French oak heads. We source this oak from a mill in the Vosges which produces some of the highest quality cooperage oak for winemakers. The result is a big malt whisky of richness and spice-like complexity.

The Second Coming.
First launched in 2005, we were forced to discontinue production under a legal threat by the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) for our pioneering use of the highest quality French oak inner staves. This, despite rave reviews from consumers, trade and press. We agreed to disagree with the SWA and halted production (for the full story, see www.compassboxwhisky.com). Over the following three years we developed a new maturation process which yielded similar if not superior results to our previous method, and this new process is something the SWA can’t take any issue with. The Spice Tree was then relaunched in September 2009.

The Whisky & The Method.
As in the past, The Spice Tree is made from 100% malt whisky sourced from northern Highland distilleries, (notably and primarily malt whisky distilled in the village of Brora). The primary maturation is in a mix of first-fill and refill American oak.

What is different is the secondary maturation. Rather than using inner stave inserts, as we did for the original Spice Tree, we rack the whisky into barrels with heavily toasted new French oak heads. We have created a method for getting a super heavy toast on the cask heads which imparts a flavour profile similar to the flat staves used for the original Spice Tree. We use oak with three different levels of toasting on the barrel heads, thus allowing us to blend the resultant whiskies to create additional layers of complexity. This secondary maturation lasts as long as two years.

The Spice Tree is a very rich whisky, suitable for after-dinner sipping, as an accompaniment to certain cheeses and, especially, in cocktails.

Flavour Descriptors
Big, sweet aromas of clove, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla. The palate is full, round and sweet, with the spice and vanilla complementing the core distillery characters and leaving a long finish.

Distillery Sourcing
Made entirely of Highland single malt whiskies from the villages of Brora – 60% (fruitiness), Carron – 20% (meatiness) and Alness – 20% (perfume).

Wood
Primary maturation: first-fill and refill American oak. 20%
Secondary maturation: custom barrels with heavily toasted new French oak heads sourced from 195 year-old Vosges forests. 80%

Bottling Details
Bottled at 46%. Natural colour. Not chill filtered.

What Richard Says:
Nose: Meaty with what reminds me of hard candies in exotic fruit flavors. Honeysuckle and orange blossoms are there if you wait a while for them to unfold.
Palate: Rich, creamy, and mouth coating followed by a swift kick in the teeth! Orange marmalade, toffee, and pumpkin pie spice.
Finish: Dry, spicy (as you’d expect!), leathery, and drawn out. Woody but not overly so.
Comments: What I like most about this is the exercise in understanding wood influence between this and Oak Cross. You’ll notice a blend that is all but identical except for the proof and wood. For me this dram is an intellectual exercise. It’s a great dram, don’t get me wrong but not my favorite of the Compass Box line. I think it also plays a little second fiddle to Oak Cross. Not that it does anyone any good but I also like the original version better.
Rating: Stands Out

Compass Box Great King Street: The Artist’s Blend Blended Scotch Whisky
43% ABV
$40-$45
Website

What the Blender Says:
Great King Street is a new line of craft Scotch whiskies created by the Compass Box Whisky Company for people who love great whisky.

In a world where malt whiskies get all the attention, people often overlook the pleasures of good Blended Scotch. This is the style of Scotch whisky that combines flavourful single malt whiskies with delicate, elegant single grain whiskies. We believe it is time for the world to take a fresh look at this style, and that is why we have created Great King Street.

There are good reasons why the blending of grain and malt whisky has been the mainstay of the Scotch business for well over 150 years. Well-made Blended Scotch whiskies have an elegance and approachability that make them a joy to drink. They are far more versatile than other styles of whisky, equally enjoyable drunk on their own or with ice, soda water, or in cocktails.

Due to the preponderance of poorly made, inexpensive Blended Scotch whiskies on the market, many people assume any bottle of Scotch bearing the term ‘blended’ is somehow inferior. Not if you make it the way we do. With Great King Street we hope to enlighten people to the joys of a well-made Blended Scotch because they open up so many new opportunities to enjoy great whisky.

We believe in transparency. These days, more and more people are interested to know what is in their whisky. Here is a breakdown of the whisky components of Artist’s Blend.

WHISKY (Spirit Character)
A Lowland Grain Whisky (fruity/perfumed) 46%
B Northern Highland Single Malt (malty/fruity) 28%
C Northern Highland Single Malt (grassy/perfumed) 17%
D Speyside Single Malt (meaty) 9%

Here is a breakdown of the wood components of Artist’s Blend.
WOOD (Flavour Impact)
1 First Fill American Oak Barrel (vanilla) 66%
2 New French Oak Finish {New-Headed Barrel} 26%
(Grilled Marshmallow, toastiness, roasted coffee)
3 First Fill Sherry Butt (wine, dried fruits) 8%

What Richard Says:
Nose: As soon as you open the bottle vanilla sugar starts to waft out. Behind the sweetness it is very light, herbal, and delicate with minor sherry notes. After it ssites in the glass a bit an odd mustiness sets in so let it sit too long. 😉
Palate: Finish: The whisky oozes vanilla, floral sweetness, and a creamy buttery mouth feel. Again, as it sits and aerates it changes a bit and a little wood bite kicks in.
Finish: This lingers with long, slow oak, aged tobacco, and tannic bitterness.
Comments: Are you looking for a new blend to tray and deep stocked in your bar? Look no further. This is a delicious and very approachable dram. John Glaser’s desire to create an everyday blend succeeds with flying colors.
Rating: Stands Out