Company: Compass Box Whisky Co.
Distillery: A blend of Highland Malt Whisky, Balmenach Distillery First Fill Bourbon Barrel Single Malt, and Glen Moray First Fill Bourbon Barrel Single Malt
Region: Edinburgh, Scotland
Aging: No Age Statement
ABV: 46% ABV
Proof: 92 Proof
Mash Bill: Undisclosed Blend of Scotch Whisky
Non-Chill Filtered: Yes
MSRP Price: $60
Compass Box Spice Tree Tasting Notes
Appearance: Light Honey
Nose: Caramel, honey, sweet vanilla, toasted oak, dark fruits, anise seed, chocolate, cinnamon, baking spice
Palate: Rich spices, sweet caramel and vanilla, toasted oak, dark fruits, raisin, black cherry, cinnamon spice, anise seed, light smoke, black pepper
Finish: Long finish loaded with rich spices, pepper, dark fruits and a tiny bit of oak and smokiness
Flavor Wheel of Blended Whiskies
From the Compass Box Website, they share the blended flavor wheel that shows what whiskeys are blended in this bottle.
History of Spice Tree
Spice Tree originally used a unique process borrowed from the world of wine-making where they would use inner-staves, French Oak in particular, to add an additional flavor profile to their Scotch whisky.
By lining the insides of the used whisky barrels and putting malt whisky into them for secondary aging, they could create a malt whisky with a very distinct personality.
The Scotch Whiskey Association took issue with this process and determined that it was not “traditional Scotch” protocol so after months of battling, Compass Box needed to back down from the battle due to costs and came up with a new process that would still produce their distinct personality in the whisky, but was within the Scotch Whiskey Association’s guidelines.
They did this by using French Oak barrel heads and used whisky barrel staves.
Here is a video from the Compass Box website explaining in a bit more detail:
Is Compass Box Spice Tree an Approachable Whisky?
Compass Box Spice Tree has a little heat to it but in the best way. It loads your taste buds with rich flavors and rounds the rich spices out with dark fruits, caramel, and vanilla.
It’s a very easy whiskey to drink and even though it has a long finish, it’s not too hot and should be a good sipper for both experienced and beginner whisky drinkers.
Is Compass Box Spice Tree Complex?
Spice Tree has a lot of layers of flavor.
It starts out with the big heavy spice notes right away.
You get rich baking spices, cinnamon, black pepper, anise seed, clove, and more.
After the spice notes subside, they are followed up by heavy dark fruit notes like raisin, plum, and dark cherry combined with sweeter notes of caramel and vanilla.
Then the finish rounds out with a nice toasted oak with lingering pepper and a spice finish.
What are Compass Box Spice Tree’s strongest attributes/flavors?
Compass Box Spice Tree’s strongest attribute is the rich spice flavors that it offers.
Just as the name suggests, it really delivers.
Is Compass Box Spice Tree a go-to whisky?
Compass Box Spice Tree is a solid go-to whisky.
While a little on the pricier side, if you’re looking for a quality Scotch to sip on, this is a pretty solid choice.
Its competitor Scotches would be the big and bold peaty Scotches like Laphroaig and Ardbeg or the fruit-heavy Scotches like Oban and Balvenie which you can also get in the $60 price range.
But it offers a distinct flavor profile just like the video from Compass Box describes.
Is Compass Box Spice Tree priced accurately to its quality?
I think Compass Box Spice Tree does deliver on its price tag.
I really enjoy the level of complexity in the spice flavors and it’s a real treat to sip on this one.
Conclusion for Compass Box Spice Tree
I’m a fan of Compass Box Spice Tree.
It offers a nice blend of flavors ranging from complex layers of pepper and spices to sweet notes of dark fruit, vanilla, caramel, and toasted oak.
If you like big bold flavors and are looking for a whisky that will really kick your taste buds into hyperdrive, this is an excellent choice.
Let Us Know What You Think
I hope you enjoyed this tasting experience with me.
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Thanks for reading and cheers!
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