Details
- Price: $70
- Proof: 86 (43% ABV)
- Type: Scotch
- Age: No Age Statement
- Distillery: Compass Box
- Visit the distillery page at Compass Box The Spaniard
Review
Nose: The nose is stronger than most scotches, which brings an expectation of bolder flavors. This review is my first time consuming Compass Box. The whisky offers pleasant scents and exceeds my initial expectations.
Palate: The taste matches the nose as you experience bolder flavors and decent complexity. The palate is unique, which can be attributed to maturation in sherry casks. This is a solid scotch and comparable to Macallan 12 Sherry Oak (which is a high compliment). For those that enjoy a bolder scotch, this is an easy recommendation for consumption. The sherry doesn’t overpower and offers a perfect accent flavor. Compass Box has multiple whisky expressions, and my first drink has me coming back for more…let’s be honest, I’m a degenerate, so I’ll try them all in 2021 (to be fair, I blame 2020).
Finish: The Spaniard brings a solid close with moderate complexity and various flavors. The taste continues for a few seconds, but it doesn’t linger too long or require water to remove from your palate. Each sip is enjoyed, making this a great gift or collection builder, especially if you seek to purchase all the Compass Box expressions.
Rating
Overall Score: 7.2 (score reflects taste and price)
Compass Box the Story of the Spaniard is a non chill-filtered scotch, aged in sherry casks. It offers deep flavors with moderate complexity and comes in subtle with the sherry finish. For those that haven’t consumed Compass Box before, Macallan 12 Sherry Oak is a perfect comparison. That statement alone will entice many scotch drinkers seeking a full-flavor whisky to purchase this bottle, and perhaps more offerings from the distillery.
Degenerate Discussion
With this being my first Compass Box experience, I have to admit, my initial thoughts were pretty low going into this whisky. The nose and palate were a welcomed surprise and made a great first impression. The best life comparison is when you find a new lover and see them naked for the first time. Your expectations are low, but the first sight is better than anticipated, which means you hit the jackpot. The analogy also work because either way you were going to have sex with them or drink the whisky.
Compass Box offers many expressions. I found a 3-box whisky set, which includes The Spaniard, The Spice Tree, and The Peat Monster (pictured). I highly recommend purchasing this if you enjoy Scotch and try them. Cheers Degenerates!
Listings
You can find Compass Box The Spaniard on the following Degenerate listing:
- Compass Box Whisky Reviews