Jose-Massu-Espinel
Spica 29 year (North Star Spirits)
Blended — Scotland
Reviewed
January 3, 2021 (edited January 22, 2021)
In the Virgo Constellation, there lies the 16th more noticeable star that can be observed from Earth. Its name is Spica, which has been chosen as the name for this expression that comes from the North Star independent bottlers. This is a blended Scotch Whisky, matured for at least 29 years, some part in sherry casks.
This is the first time i had a North Star Spirits Whisky. Bottled at 45.5%abv. Color is a little tawny.
On the nose, it is grain whisky all the way. A Grain whisky vanilla note, dry chocolate cake, Acetone, Lemon a little Yeasty. Cheap citric notes, Maize.
After some minutes a nice green apple aroma appears; Melon. After the first sip, aroma gets more thick, specially the vanilla note. Vanilla milkshake with a little dulce de leche. More sips made it super sweet, dulce de leche and apples. Even a dim tobacco note appeared. It gained some points on the third time i nosed it. The red apples have become a clean note, very nice.
Palate is very standard. Nice vanilla dry cake flavor. Red apples, Cinnamon spice.
Second sip is all about a nice dulce de leche / toffee sweetness, pretty pleasant, the spices rise after a couple of seconds. It has a little cloying burn which should not be there for a 29yo. Lots of toffee.
Aftertaste has nothing to be remembered. A nice ghosthly (it is felt but not on the walls of your palate) but strong Pepper note. Vanilla and pepper. It feels like a very pleasant, mouth numbing, fancy, not too complex blend.
Overall, a 90 dollars 29yo blend should say everything you need to know about this whisky. Yes, it is easy drinkable, and you will actually like it, but it is not memorable. My score for it is a fair 82 over 100.
Create Account
or
Sign in
to comment on this review
Hearing good things about North Star