ScotchingHard
Compass Box Spice Tree Extravaganza
Blended Malt — Scotland
Reviewed
February 5, 2020 (edited December 2, 2021)
The biggest problem is the name. This is not Spice Tree. This is not related to Spice Tree. Spice Tree is a great affordable blend that is very spicy. This blend is obviously older and more luxurious than Spice Tree, but it’s not necessarily better. It’s like if Spice Tree was a $3 taco at the standing-room-only, hole-in-the-wall taco spot that always has a line up because it’s that good; Spice Tree Extravaganza might be that “taco” at the fancy restaurant with a tasting menu that brings out their “re-imagined” deconstructed taco that has caviar and a gold leaf with some green sauce on the side. And you’re just like, “That ain’t no fucking taco.”
They should have called this Fruit Tree. I might have given this a star if it just changed the name. It’s not a bad whisky. It wants to go down the fruity direction, but it’s half-hearted. About 50% of this blend is Glen Ord and Benrinnes matured in first fill sherry casks. You get feathery soft notes of red fruits, figs, and dates. A honeycomb and wax Clynelish style stands out more than anything, and there is some Clynelish in here. In terms of spices, there’s some vanilla, nutmeg, and clove; but it’s hardly a spice extravaganza. This blend tastes like it should be expensive, but it really does not stand out. The name and the packaging are definitely misleading.
Score: 0 (forgettable)
How much does a bottle cost: $105-140 at retail. It’s getting hard to find and is starting to show up at higher secondary pricing.
How much do I think a bottle is worth: $90
110.0
USD
per
Bottle
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I just opened up the bottle I’ve had for about a year and tried it. You are correct this should’ve just been called extravaganza because it has nothing to do with spice tree. It’s a richer, more laid-back whiskey.
Great review and critique, as usual. I think I was so enamored with the overall quality from the bottle I drank that I completely didn’t take it to task for ignoring the old, tried-and-true Spice Tree style recipe. I recall similar notes to yours, but I chose to ignore the heritage and enjoy the change. Cheers.