Compass Box The Story of the Spaniard

A solid sherry option. I found it a bit spikey when first opened but then it really mellowed about half way through the bottle. Sweet and balanced.

I’m a huge fan of John Glaser and his entire vision of taking blends that result in a sum greater than its individual parts. This is a new addition of their core range, and very reasonably priced as well. My pour was a mere $5, but I think the bottle is maybe $40. At that price range, it’s squarely competitive with the likes of JW range (not the Blue or Platinum obviously), as well as Famous Grouse and a few others. I sort of wonder if it’s cannibalizing on its own Great King St series. Probably not, since this is a sherried version. So...at the onset, you immediatley get grain sherried notes—-grape skins and almonds. Taste is mild milk chocolate, hazelnuts , some dried fruits. A high grain component versus the malt. This is a great whiskey to have on your shelf for friends and family that aren’t used to stronger Islays or Islanders, or wouldn’t really appreciate the top shelf single malts. And honestly, at $40, it’s really a good uncomplicated whiskey.

Sweeter aroma of dried fruit, orangish taste. slight spiciness. Short finish with lingering spice.

ok daily drinking, not a fan of what I get is floral finish

Finally, a new addition to Compass Box Whisky’s core range. After many bespoke bottles and pricy, special releases the guys at CBW finally address the suspicious absence of a truly sherry-prominent whisky to their low cost, core range of blends. Hedonism is a delicious grain whisky, but it doesn’t focus on sherry. Asyla, Oak Cross and Spice Tree all focus on lighter, new and ex-White oak- leaving sherry casks on the sidelines for their more limited releases. I’d say this bottle is a necessary addition, the question is- does it live up to the CBW standard of quality? It’s named after a bespoke bottle that John Glaser did several years back for a bar in NYC called “The Spaniard”. This is an homage to that bottle and that bar. It’s bottled at 43% ABV and runs around $40usd. It’s a rich, amber gold in the taster with watery, undefined legs and tiny beads after a spin. The nose is over-ripened vine fruits, sun dried raisins and honey. They play off one another quite well- the makings of a well-crafted, sherry bomb. After some time,however, those notes begin to fall flat and a biscuity, malt note takes over. The lack of wood or barrel really hurts here. The quick remedy is to go ahead and begin to sip- there’s no need to wait for complexity or new aromas. They won’t materialize. The palate starts again intensely sherried: grape must, almonds and some cloyingly sweet honey attack your taste buds in a good way before turning chocolatey and a bit flat. Once again, barrel bite or character is absent and could help keep this ballerina on her toes. Sadly, it’s just not there. The finish offers up more raisins, milk chocolate and a bit of spice. It doesn’t strike me as barrel or pepper spice, though- maybe it’s just youthful spirit rearing it’s head. There is some faint leathery notes and just a taste of wood- turning things slightly dry. I get a bit of what seems like cherry cola on the very end and it’s a welcome surprise. Overall, the dram does some things well- there’s plenty of sherry and chocolate sweetness to keep “sherry heads” happy, but hardcore whisky folk may find it a bit too uneventful as a spirit. The price point is good, bordering on great, and I don’t have a problem bestowing praise on John Glaser and CBW for making another easily approachable and crushable blend. The only underlying negative I have after finishing a bottle is asking myself if I ever need to buy another bottle. I’m sure that’s NOT what CBW wants to hear, but that’s how I felt after the last drop. Do I need this anymore? Nah, not really. All that said, it’s a solid pour. Maybe keep a bottle on hand for your uninitiated scotch friends and for the day you just want to pound 2-3 drams to warm up for one of CBW’s Limited Releases. 3.5-3.75 stars and maybe a bump for finally adding a sherry bomb to the core range. Cheers.