Compass Box The Spice Tree

 

 

 

46°

Distillery : Glen Moray, Balmenach, Tomatin - Speyside and Highlands

1st Fill Bourbon and Custom French Oak Casks

Independent Bottling 

By Compass Box 

Core Range 

Blended Malt 

Launched in 2005

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Totally Unpeated

The story of The Spice Tree begins in 2005 when John Glaser launched this product as a limited edition of 4150 bottles. The principle is to use intensely toasted French oak casks in order to obtain a strongly spiced Whisky. The distilleries involved were Dailuaine, Teaninich, Clynelish and Longmorn, and the age was around 10 years. A second similar batch followed in 2006, but the Scotch Whisky Association called for production to cease, as the manufacturing process was said to be unsuitable for a Scotch Whisky. John Glaser then changed the recipe for the first time, and launched a second The Spice Tree in 2009, this time as part of The Signature Range, which is the classic Compass Box portfolio. At this time, the required distilleries were the same, except that Longmorn was no longer part of the mix, and the age was no longer mentioned. Success is there and The Spice Tree becomes a pillar of the brand. Finally, in 2021, the recipe is changed again, the juice comes now from Glen Moray, Balmenach and Tomatin, which makes it fruitier.

Let's Taste It : 

On the nose, honey nestles against candied vanilla and lemon pulp, it's light, airy, an ounce of iodine, it's sweet, marshmallow, biscuit, but above all it's very balanced, nothing stands out, it's smooth. On the palate, still a lot of honey, white plums, grapes, very ripe apples, it's nice, but where are the spices? Oh yes, it's true, there are a few, paprika and nutmeg, but it's still quite soft. Fairly good finish, where the lemon becomes prominent, paraffin, milk chocolate.

 

In Short, 

t's a good Blended Malt, at a fair price if you buy it from the right stores. Personally, I don't find it that spicy, probably because I was expecting an explosion of spices, and it was very subtle on the contrary. A purchase would be a good idea, it is a quality entry dram.

Score : 86

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Esther Rose - Safe To Run

The Akkeshi 2018 Single Cask Selected by La Maison du Whisky

 

 

 

58°

Distillery : The Akkeshi - Japan

Ex-Bourbon Cask

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2022

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

 

 

 

The Akkeshi distillery was founded in 2016 by Keiichi Toita, manager of a spirits trading company named Kenten Jitsugyo. It is located on the island of Hokkaido in northern Japan, a place that has several things in common with a certain Islay in Scotland. This allows Akkeshi to produce very limited edition in Single Casks entirely made on the island, with local barley and peat. But it is not certain that these were the craftng conditions of this particular edition, I don't know either how many bottles were put on sale, nor how many ppm the peat rate rises, or even if it is reduced. It is no less a selection from La Maison du Whisky, sold exclusively in France.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

The nose is more and more coastal, oysters, limestone, sandstone, slate. Salty but light freshness. The peat is present, hazy, almost ethereal. A pinch of icing sugar, but also some sea foam. On the palate, it's oily, seaweed, kelp, but also slightly fruity, vanilla and lychee. The spices are important, but not too strong, they soak up the mouth. nutmeg and cloves. Then comes the finish, long and beautiful, a bit of charcoal, mainly shortbread. Hazelnut and a saline touch, like semi-salted butter. Very enjoyable.

 

In Short, 

This Single Cask reveals the very interesting potential of this distillery. A deeply coastal and saline character, but at the same time very subtle. However, it is still too young, 4 years at best, and the aging in a Bourbon cask does not enhance complexity. It remains a beautiful thing, sold at a totally excessive price. I think La Maison du Whisky is hoping for an explosion in the market like for Chichibu a few years ago. Why not, but I don't see the first signs yet.

Score : 88

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Ilajan - Mad

The Akkeshi Peated Seimei

 

 

 

55°

Distillery : Akkeshi - Japan

Ex-Bourbon, Sherry, Red Wine and Local Mizunara Oak Casks

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2022

Unchillfiltered

Lightly Peated

 

 

 

The Akkeshi distillery, founded in 2016 in the North of Hokkaido in Japan, has been launching a wide range of 24 bottlings since the end of 2020, entitled "24 Solar Systems", in tribute to the 24 solar seasons that punctuate the year according to the Japanese tradition. Here is the 7th edition, Seimi, subtitled "Radiance of Pure Life", it illustrates the beginning of Spring during the first half of April. It is a three-year-old Single Malt, aged 70% in Bourbon casks, 20% in Sherry, the rest in red wine casks and in Quercus Crispula oak casks, also named Mizunaraa, very rare and typically Japanese. The barley was grown locally, the water used is also drawn near the distillery, from the Homakai River, and filtered through layers of peat. In addition, 7 types of barrels were used, some of which were peated, and the others not. The result gives a subtle and light peat around 10 ppm. The number of bottles produced is not known.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

The nose is a bit austere, coastal, mineral, limestone, sandstone, slate. A certain depth. The peat is discreet, tapered, grainy. Pencil lead, seafood, oysters, but also mussels and whelks. Sweet salinity. On the palate, it remains maritime, iodized, with some harbour hints, small fishing port, quicksilver fish, eels, razor clams. Little disturbing spices, it's a bit milky, then the finish comes, quite strong, rock bathed in seawater, seaweed and kelp. Very long. 

 

In Short, 

Subtle and full of nuances, of great maturity in relation to the age. I enjoyed the coastal profile. However the nose seemed to me very austere and difficult to penetrate. Fortunately, the monstrous finale made up for it. It remains a very good Single Malt, at an absolutely excessive price, to be reserved for collectors eager for curiosities.

Score : 87

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Emily Zoé - Save The World

The Akkeshi Whisky Taisho

 

 

 

48°

Distillery : Akkeshi - Japan

Ex-Bourbon, Sherry, Red Wine Mizunara Casks

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Blended Whisky 

Bottled in 2022

Unchillfiltered

Lightly Peated

The Akkeshi distillery is located on the island of Hokkaido in northern Japan. It started distilling in October 2016 through the impetus of its creator Keiichi Toita, manager of a trading company named Kenten Jitsugyo. This new Blended Whisky, released in August 2022, is the 8th part of a wide range of 24 bottles, "24 Solar Termes Series", which is inspired by the 24 solar seasons in Japanese tradition. The season referred by this bottling is the hottest time of the year, between late July and early August, "The Peak of Summer" being the subtitle of the bottle. 10,000 copies were produced, and flooded the world. The maturation has been partly done in Mizunara oak casks, or Quercus Crispula, very rare and expensive. The peat comes from the site of the distillery itself, its influence is slight, around 10 ppm or so, in my humble opinion. The age of the beast must be around 4 years old.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Lemony pulp, but light, a peaty shade, nice balance, I bite a grapefruit, then comes the grain influence, crushed corn, nice sweet roundness, like a drop of molasses, liquid caramel, honey and nuts. Minerality in the background, sandstone or slate. On the palate, beautiful syrupy consistency, citrus fruits return, well managed spices, fondant with lemon, blood orange and icing sugar, chalky hints. Successful, long and pastry finish, gingerbread, white grapes, puffed rice. A drop of lemon.

 

In Short, 

Despite its young age, it's impressively mature. It's pleasant and subtle, but the lemon dominates, with a sweet saline minerality. Overall, I found it successful, even exceptional for a simple Blend, but the price, on the other hand, is crazy. Crafting costs in Japan are much higher than in Scotland, and do not allow this product to be competitive, unfortunately.

Score : 87

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Nickel Creek - Strangers

Yeun Elez 2018 Edition exclusive 4 yo

 

 

 

53,1°

Distillery : Warenghem - France

Ex-Armorik STR Cask 

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2023

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Peated around 50 ppm

 

 

 

The Warenghem distillery in Brittany is more than a hundred years old, and has been producing Whisky under the Armorik brand for about fifteen years. In 2020, it's new, these gentlemen are experimenting peated Whisky, with the Yeun Elez brand. Barley is imported from Scotland, as peat bogs are protected in France. Subsequently, two limited editions came out. This is the second one, resulting from a maturation of 4 years and 3 months in a single STR cask, that means Shaved, Toasted & Recharred. The result gave 234 bottles. It is not mentioned whether the bottling is cask strength.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Very oaky and smoky, soft and dark wood. Black fruits, forest berries, heather, quite thick peat but it does not seem so strong. Gingerbread, marzipan. A bit vinous too, tannins, rich earth, blackberries. On the palate, a bit light, very spicy, cloves, cumin, nutmeg, cardamom. It's rough, splinters, biscuits, cereals in the background. Ripe wheat. Short final, nevertheless pleasant, chocolate, a small explosion and then nothing. Black grape. Prune. 

 

In Short, 

The cask leaves little room for the distillate. It's intensely woody, a bit chocolatey and forestry. I'm not thrilled at all because the wood is quite invasive, it makes you think of virgin casks, which I'm not a fan of. The peat is quite dry, more from the Highlands. It's not very complex and the price is far too high in my opinion. OK, it's a Single Cask, but very young and with a very cask-driven maturation that prevents any subtlety. If you make a Single Cask, you try to do something sensitive, original, rare. Here, it's coarse.

Score : 85 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

                                           Les Wampas - Manu Chao

Talisker Wilder Seas

 

 

 

48,6°

Distillery : Talisker - Islands 

Bourbon Casks and French XO Cognac Finish

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2023

Unchillfiltered

Peated around 22 ppm

 

 

 

Talisker tends to flood us with NAS, but this one was born out of a special occasion, a partnership with the NGO Parley, which struggles to clean up the oceans. For each bottle purchased, the distilleryr will donate 3 euros to Parley. In addition, this edition is truly ecological, without box and without label, made only of recycled glass. Nice initiative, but all this should be mandatory, and not dependent on everyone's good will. 17,940 bottles were released last April, the goal is to preserve 500 million square meters of ocean thanks to the profit produced.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Baked apples, slightly caramelized. Sweet smoke, which blends with a touch of icing sugar. Salty freshness typical of the distillery, with the tide, salt and seaweed, more welcoming than usual. Some dried fruits, raisins, apricots. It's almost floral. On the palate, it's silky at first, then the fruits stand out, braised grapes, nectarines, cinnamon, saffron, nice woodiness, tinder, nutmeg. Smoother towards the end, on chestnut cream. Charcoal on the finish, the barrels were well toasted, long, warm chestnut, forest berries, a pinch of salt.

 

In Short, 

The Cognac casks play their part and we have a complex, fruity, pleasant to drink product, where the markers of the distillate are nevertheless preserved. It's really nice, but I must say I prefer the coastal roughness of the 10-year-old. That said, I give it a higher rating because the product gains in complexity and originality thanks to this successful finish. The price is a little high, but let's not forget we are also doing a good deed by buying it.

Score : 87

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Travis - Happy

Caol Ila 2010 The Single Malts of Scotland 12 yo

 

 

 

54,3°

Distillery : Caol Ila - Islay 

1st Fill Sherry Hogshead

Independent Bottling 

By Elixir Distillers 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2022

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured 

Peated around 35 ppm

 

 

 

Distilled on February 9, 2010 and bottled on April 5, 2022, this small cask of Sherry raised in Caol Ila produced 323 bottles. As usual with The Single Malts of Scotland, a range founded in 2002 within the Elixir Distillers company run by the Singh brothers, it is unchillfiltered, without colouring, and prepared at "optimum strength", which means. the best possible alcohol content, but not cask strength. Not to be confused with another Caol Ila 2010 of the same age released in the Reserve Casks sub-range, reduced to 48°.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Cherries marinated in fuel oil, raspberries bathed in ashes. It's very smoky, and at the same time fruity, with a hint of honey, which is not displeasing to me. Thick, earthy, grassy peat. A waxy touch, beeswax, sweet and salty. Nice hazy, chalky, slightly iodized smoke. With large pieces of liquorice. Cashew nuts. American tobacco. Noble wood, mahogany, cherry. Asphalt and gravel. On the palate, it's silky, velvety, pearly, spices wave to us, cloves, cumin, nutmeg, perfectly managed. It's mostly liquorice and earth, birch bark and royal jelly, resin, soft caramel, fudge. A hint of bitterness. Long finish, it settles slowly, coffee grounds. Cola. Good power nonetheless. Chocolate chips.

 

In Short, 

The Sherry is both intense and discreet, it highlights beautiful fruit and fresh leather, but also gives way to a distillate rich in peat and smoke. It's a very pleasant whisky, where only the finish is a bit light, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. As you would expect with this quality, it didn't last long, especially since the price was really attractive. Another one I missed, too bad.

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                          Fontaines D.C. - Boys in the Better Land

Port Askaig Sherry Cask Quarter Bottled for La Maison du Whisky

 

 

 

57,1° (100° Proof)

Distillery Officially Unknown - Islay 

American Bourbon and Sherry Casks 

Independent Bottling 

By Elixir Distillers 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2022

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

 

 

 

Since 2009 that the brand exists, created by Specialty Drinks which has now changed its name to be called Elixir Distillers, limited editions have followed at Port Askaig. This one is recent, it is close to an expression which is a reference for them, the 100° Proof, but instead of being made up only from Bourbon barrels, it is a blend of three American casks and one of Sherry. 1260 bottles were put on sale, exclusively for the French market. Whiskybase says the liquid is 6 years old, but nothing is mentioned on the bottle. Another edition of the same recipe went on sale around the same time, but in Germany.

    

Let's Taste It : 

Nose 100% Caol Ila, with sea spray and the tide, iodine, sea foam, limestone, just like always. It's still so good, beautiful breadth, this time nuanced by discreet but lovely Sherry, a hint of raspberry, cherry, exotic wood, a few spices here and there, which we find back in the mouth, velvety, suave, peat is well integrated, pepper galore, nutmeg, a dab of clove. Long and powerful finish, chips of charcoal, cola, dark chocolate, coffee grounds, walnuts, hazelnuts. Old wood. 

 

In Short, 

Very friendly and iodized, exactly what I expect from such a bottle. Nice balance between the coastal purity of the distillate and beautiful Sherry fragrances. Very pleasant to drink for lovers of beautiful peat like me. It's of course Caol Ila, no need to pretend we don't know. The price is a bit high for an ageless whisky, but a purchase would not be a splurge, in my eyes.

Score : 88

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

                                            Screaming Females - Lights Out