Compass Box The Spice Tree Blended Malt Scotch Whisky

About Compass Box The Spice Tree Blended Malt Scotch Whisky

An avant garde oak-aging method gives this blended malt whisky its intensely spiced complexity. But when originally created it resulted in a Scotch so transgressive that it was actually banned from production by the powers that be. Undeterred, Compass Box developed an entirely new type of cask with multi-level barrel head toasting that brought that same delicious, rich flavor to this exceptional, blended Scotch in a way that still allows it to be deemed Scotch.

This meant-to-be-savored, rule-breaking bottle will convince you that blended whisky is a worthy art form (if you still needed convincing!).

“Spice Tree marries what I love about spicy rye whisky with a fruity, sherried whisky. With notes of toasty oak, mocha, and baking spices like clove and ginger, Spice Tree makes for the perfect Rob Roy cocktail (a Scottish variation on a classic Manhattan cocktail) or simply pair it with a quality ginger ale.”– Forbes 

Tasting Notes

A drink with waves of flavor. A fragrant and rich nose with sweet notes of dried herbs, spices, oak and even an undertone of vanilla. A rich and peppery pallet that gives way to a very spicy finish.

Suggested Serves

Classic: Sip neat for the full experience

Production Notes

The first edition of this bottle, released in 2005, used toasted French oak staves during the aging. But this was considered too radical by the Scotch Whisky Association, and the company was required to cease production. 

Not ones to back down from a challenge, they innovated a new cask with toasted French oak heads coopered on to them, which mirrors the flavor profile of the first version, to the delight of Scotch enthusiasts everywhere.

The Spice Tree consists of individual single malts without any additional grain spirits in the blend. Specifically, it marries 20% Teaninich single malt, 20% Dailuaine, and 60% Clynelish, each of them quite well-regarded single malts in their own right. The whiskies are vatted prior to additional maturation totaling an extra two years in what Compass Box refers to as “highly active hybrid barrels.”

25% of the portion of the blend is dedicated to vanilla toast casks. 22% ages in an infrared toast cask. 32% ages the additional two years in a mocha toast cask, and the final 21% is aged in first fill standard American barrels which imparts additional fruit notes.

They carefully blend the batches using various levels of toast and without all of the whisky touching the new oak heads, as new oak tends to create overly-wooded whisky. No added coloring or chill-filtration as a matter of principle.

It all adds up to a spicy, delicious, not-to-be-missed blended malt Scotch Whisky.

750ml & 92 Proof