Compass Box Spice Tree Extravaganza

Compass Box Spice Tree Extravaganza is a special edition which celebrates the tenth anniversary of the original blended malt The Spice Tree.

It was composed as an older version of the original, with more first-fill sherry cask influence and some of the hybrid casks that had Sessile oak cask heads. It includes malt whiskies from Glen Ord, Benrinnes, Allt-a-Bhainne, Clynelish, Dailuaine and Teaninich.

Spice Tree Extravaganza
(46%, Compass Box 2016, 12.240 btl.)

Nose: rather sweet, with a round fruitiness.  Blackberries and raspberries, plum jam, peach candy and baked pear. Rather candied. Some vanilla notes and an underlying hint of wax candles. Very aromatic, with light oak shavings, but not as spicy as I expected.

Mouth: sweet again. Yellow plums, a little Membrillo and berries again, as well as a hint of pineapple candy. Some Muscovado. Then more oak, with a prominent gingery note and tobacco. The balance is perfect, Compass Box really masters the added woodiness and doesn’t overdo it.

Finish: medium long, with soft pepper and clove and a dry, chocolaty finale.

This is sweeter than we’ve come to expect from Compass Box, but just as good. Great balance and a perfect level of oak trickery, just a little less extravaganza than we expected. Around € 130.

Score: 87/100