Every once in a while, you come across a whisky blend that is so well balanced and delicious that no matter how many bottles you drain, you still can’t stop swiping your credit card to get more. The notes of spiced orchard fruits poached in red wine, take me straight to the Spanish countryside, stretching on a lounger, overlooking grape fields of a vineyard surrounded by rolling hills. So, after polishing off 2 bottles back-to-back and a mental trip to Spain, here is my review of The Story of the Spaniard, the Blended Scotch whisky from Compass Box.

The Story of the Spaniard Basic Information

• Whisky Type: Blended Malt
• Country: Scotland
• Age: No Age Statement
• Distiller: Compass Box
• ABV (Alcohol by Volume): 43%, Non-Chill Filtered
• Colour: Natural Colour, Amber with a hint of red
• Maturation Casks:
  • Sherry Casks
  • Spanish Red Wine Casks
  • Toasted French Oak
  • American Oak

• Notable Awards & Recognition:
  • Silver – Independent Blended Malt Scotch – 2020 International Spirits Challenge
  • Silver – Independent Blended Malt Scotch – 2019 International Spirits Challenge

• Price Range: $58 (Approximately)

About Compass Box

Compass Box is known for its innovation and creativity to develop unique blends and whisky expressions. Compass Box was founded by John Glaser in the year 2000 and is headquartered in Chiswick, London. John Glaser is known to be a rebel of the whisky industry. Since his days as the marketing director of Johnnie Walker, he has had his fair share of disagreements with old-school scotch establishments. But over the years, he has become one of the most prominent individuals in the industry including being the 5-time winner of the Whiskey Advocate’s Innovator of the Year award.

Over the years they have come up with some of the most creative whiskeys, each telling its own story. I am going to make it my life’s mission to taste and review every one of them but that will take a lot more time and money than what I have at the moment, so for now, let’s start with just this one. Do explore their full range here and if you try any, do share your thoughts in the comments section below.

The Story of The Story of the Spaniard

John Glaser, while traveling across the south of Spain was introduced to Sherry wine by a local patron. He was later reacquainted with whisky matured in former sherry casks. The depth and flavor that such whisky brought about the inspiration to create a blend that pays homage to the man from south of Spain who introduced Sherry, the Spaniard.

To bring about the right influence, 48% of The Story of the Spaniard is matured in ex-sherry cask and 25% in Spanish red wine casks. Apart from cask maturation, the whiskeys used in the blend are also greatly responsible for the distinct flavor profile. The website is kind enough to share the parentage and composition of the blend which I will talk about in the next section.

The Composition of the Blend

As you can see in the graph below, roughly 80% of maturation is done in sherry or Spanish red wine casks. In terms of the spirit, 40% of the blend is accounted for from a distillery near Aberlour. Aberlour, as you may know, is a Speyside whisky with a lot of ripe orchid fruit like apples, pears, and spice notes. Followed by that, the next highest composition of about 25% is from the Teaninich distillery. Teaninich is a Highland scotch distillery and adds to the fruity character of the blend. Another 15% composition also comes from Highland scotch from Clynelish and Dailuaine distilleries. However, this 15% is matured in heavily toasted French oak casks. Toasting the casks caramelizes the sugar in the wood and lifts up the lovely vanilla and caramel notes. The final 20% comes from malts from the Deanston distillery known for rich, berry sweetness and Glen Elgin distillery known for its floral notes.

As you can see, most of the composition is more towards the fruity, sweet side of the spectrum and the sherry and red wine casks are going to bring in the layer of spiciness.

The Bottle & Label Design

While I do think the bottle is unique and stylish, I don’t think it’s the best that Compass Box has to offer. The graphic on the bottle depicts an old-time scene from Spain but I feel it’s a bit too busy and the color palette used is on the darker side, hindering a bright, clear view to appreciate the art. Nevertheless, good enough for a glance and looks stylish enough to flaunt on your bar.

Image Source

The Story of the Spaniard Nose

Based on all the recipe and marketing material, I expected the nose to be fruity sweet + wine spice. However, when I went in for a whiff, the story is a bit more complex. The first note that came to my mind was of baked pastry. To put it in the best way possible, imagine smelling an English muffin with orange marmalade, coupled with whisky burn or acetone. Then in the consequent whiffs, came the red fruits that I was expecting. Even the fruits came in layers. Initially, the fruits were more inclined towards berries, and ripe cherries. Followed by orchid fruits like apples and plums and then ultimately, the spice. I could get two spice notes, one of cinnamon and the other of faint nutmeg. Both of these spices blended perfectly with the pastry smells this whisky has to offer. In summary, the nose does not start fruity, as one would expect but comes in waves. And everything else that surrounds the fruity sweetness is perfectly balanced making the overall experience very pleasurable and well-rounded. Key notes on the nose include:

• English Muffin
• Marmalade, orange peel citrus
• Grain, malt
• Acetone
• Berries, Plums
• Apples, Pears
• Cinnamon, Nutmeg

The Story of the Spaniard Palate

The palate is quite the inverse of the nose. Here, the fruit takes the center stage. I can taste a lot of honeyed apples, and zesty citrus. Some sweet, dried fruits along with some earthiness like that of tobacco leaves. And there is that bakery element that comes along as well. One that resembles sponge cake or muffins. The finish is medium with a spice that lingers. The finish does remind me of dry red wine, kind of peppery and infused with cinnamon. Overall, the key tasting notes are that of:

• Apples, Pears
• Cherry, Plums, Berries
• Dried Apricots, Raisins
• Earth, Heather
• Muffin, Sponge Cake
• Cinnamon

Conclusion

In my opinion, The Story of The Spaniard is a fantastic, blended scotch whisky. Whether you are a newbie or a seasoned whisky lover, I recommend you give it a try. I remember having my cousin over for dinner the other day and he is more of a beer guy and not into whisky. But he came with an open mind and fortunately I had a bottle of The Story of The Spaniard which he loved. We drained half the bottle that night, and the rest is history. Super easy to drink, but definitely more than meets the eye. One of the finest Compass Box has to offer.