Compass Box The Story of the Spaniard

Overall tastes like Spice Tree just dialed back 15% and with less apple. It's alright.

Good flavor but I get a strange smell. I do get the aromatic hints characteristic of sherry casks, but the first smell I get every time is that of garlic Parmesan shrimp scampi, which is not an aroma I particularly hope to get from a scotch. That being said, the flavor is pretty rich, with lots of sherry influence. Rich in dried fruits – some raisins, prunes, fruit wine, and honey.

Nose is floral and fruity, orange bursts, apples, apricots, golden raisins. Honey. Tasty is incredibly light, barely notice you're sipping at first, followed by a bit of spice zing and all the honey and fruit from the smell. Ends with a strange flavor that reminds me of the monkey shoulder I tried months ago but still can't put my finger on the name of the flavor. It's off putting.

Alcohol-y, but good. Red Apple smell. Light pear flavor

It’s 2020. It’s December. Let’s shut this year down with a brand new whiskey (or whisky) every day. It’s my own personal whiskey advent calendar. +6! Dec. 19, 2020 I was about to hunt down a particular Compass Point, at the recommendation of @Ctrexman then saw this THREE PACK of Compass Point 50 mLs for just $20. So (kind of) by request, here’s the first of the three. If it’s a winner, I might have to restart the hunt! Nose is delicious. Grape juice, cane sugar, fresh cut grass, in that order. Body gives me sweet cherries, hint of vanilla ice cream on the back end. Finish is sweet grapefruit, slight black pepper. So that was actually phenomenal. I had relatively low expectations for a 50 mL in a “budget” 3-pack, but this is an incredibly complex and juicy whisky. I also don’t have to make any compromises for this one. I would’ve accepted a trash finish for that cherry body, but each part of this drink holds its own independently. Running the math: 750/50*6.66 (repeating of course) = $100 for a 750mL. I don’t know if that’s the actual retail of this scotch, but I’d gladly pay that for this one. ‘Tis the season. I’m day-to-day on my whiskey selection, so if you’re reading this and there’s something readily available out there you’d like me to enjoy/suffer through this holiday season, leave it in the comments. Merry whiskey to all, and to all a beer flight!

The initial aroma and palate tread down the same road that Compass Box has paved with both the Great King St. Glasgow Blend and the Artist's Blend. It's a round, waxy, and floral-honeyed character reminding me of orange tree blossoms. (My mind races towards the oft-cited Clynelish influence - but according to the blend notes, there's none here.) This one also layers in the red wine cask influences that lend themselves to coloring the palate, but making themselves felt more so in the finish with a zest that almost recalls the effervescence of soda pop. This, like the Great King St. twins, is a finely rounded, balanced and well designed blend meant to please and not challenge. (But it's certainly an upgrade from most Johnnie Walker or Dewar expressions.) What more can I write [?] as this bottle has no obvious faults. I'd rate this 4 stars, but the VFM is not there. The Great King St. Artist's Blend - although peated - is as pleasing, but priced $25 less. As a fan of peated expressions, I'm not sure the price bump is called for. And so, I'll dock it a quarter point. Still, this is a very good blended scotch, worth a taste, and maybe even another purchase. Whether it deserves a spot in your liquor cabinet, well, I'll leave that up to you.

Not my favorite from Compass Box but still very good.

Like glenmorangie lasanta but lighter smoother.