Whisky Review: Compass Box The Spice Tree

Sweet, full, and round without a hint of heaviness. Nicely sweet like sea-salted caramel sauce, no doubt due to the influence of Clynelish. Two-thirds into the palate comes the full force of spice notes, just as advertised. Clove, warm cinnamon, wave on wave and layer upon layer of flavor. Where Oak Cross is a fight for your attention all at once, Spice Tree feels takes its time to present its layers for your enjoyment. Long and sustained, yet gentle alcohol burn with continued clove notes through the finish. Final Thoughts: I find myself wavering back and forth between which dram from the Compass Box stable I find more delightfully intriguing: Spice Tree or Hedonism. All the releases in their Signature Range are worth both the price of admission and the time invested to fully experience them, in my very humble opinion. In a glass of Spice Tree, I find twists and turns which do not fail to leave a bemused smile stretched across my face. We can get as clinical as we like when measuring the value of a dram, but that smile is what always tells me how I feel about a whisky long before my brain finds the words. In terms of history, The Spice Tree is a fun chapter in Scotch whisky lore unfolding before us. With the mystique surrounding the label a decade ago, it can be easy to overhype this malt blend. As tradition collides with innovation, the results are often difficult to anticipate. In The Spice Tree’s case, however, the consumer is gifted a superior blend capable of competing with some of the absolute best in the industry. The story you’ll share over a dram is a nice bonus. Score: 91/100 [SHOP FOR A BOTTLE OF COMPASS BOX SPICE TREE]