Compass Box The Spaniard Review

The actual name of this whisky is Compass Box The Story Of The Spaniard, but I'm not going to write that out every time I reference the whisky so I'm just going to call this Compass Box The Spaniard. If you read the blurb from the company below you can see where the name comes from, but before you do that, take a look at this beautiful bottle, the artwork is seriously gorgeous.

Unique artwork and design is definitely not an area Compass Box is lacking in, especially when it comes to their limited editions. They have some of the most beautiful bottles around which is enhanced by the fact that the whisky they blend and bottle is delicious. Comprised of whisky mostly from ex-Sherry and ex-Spanish red wine casks (73%), I've been looking forward to doing this scotch review ever since it came out.

Compass Box The Spaniard Review: Details and Tasting Notes

Inspired by an eponymously named bespoke whisky we recently created for a bar in New York City called The Spaniard, we decided to explore the sherried style further to create a new whisky for our permanent range.

The name is a nod to our founder's chance encounter with a man in the South of Spain, where he was introduced to Sherry for the first time.

Compass Box The Spaniard Review: Details (price, mash bill, cask type, ABV, etc.)

Region: Scotland

Distiller: Various (Macallan, Teaninich, Deanston, Glen Elgin, Clynelish, Dailuaine)
Mash Bill: 100% Malted Barley
Cask: First Fill ex-Sherry (40%), ex-Spanish Red Wine (25%), French Oak (15%), Refill Sherry (8%), Refill Hogshead (7%), Re-Charred ex-Bourbon (5%)
Age: NAS (3+ years)
ABV: 43%

Batch: TS 2018-A

Non-Chill Filtered | Natural Color

Price: $65

Compass Box The Spaniard Review: Tasting Notes

NOSE
Sherry/winey and malty sweetness, honey, complex dried fruit, olde candy, fruit candy ad touches of spice.

PALATE
Oily sherry sweetness, complex dried dark and orchard fruit, fruit candy sweetness and some bits of honey, toffee and spice.

FINISH
Medium -> Winey sherry sweetness, dried fruit and candy sweetness.

BALANCE, BODY & FEEL
Great balance, round medium body and a velvety feel.

Compass Box The Spaniard Review: Overall and Score

These might be fightin' words, but this reminds me of the Glenmorangie Milsean ... but better. Aroma is rich and elegant with dark fruity and sherry sweetness. Palate is buttery and oily with layers of fruits, candies and dark sweets. Finish is a perfectly elegant compliment to the aroma and palate.

There are complex layers that move through the Compass Box The Spaniard and it comes across as a warm and inviting whiskey. On one hand, I think this whiskey could benefit from a slightly higher proof, like 46%, to embolden it a bit. On the other hand, John knows what he's doing... so I'm going to shut up now and go back to enjoying this whisky.

SCORE: 87/100 (B+)