Compass Box whisky - The Story of the Spaniard

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Compass Box "The story of the Spaniard" is onlangs verkozen tot 'Beste Blended Whisky' tijdens The Dutch Whisky Awards 2019 op het Internationale Whisky Festival in Den Haag. Namens Bresser & Timmer en Compass Box whisky mocht Hans Bresser de award in ontvangst nemen.
The story of the Spaniard is een 'Blended Malt' bestaande uit 6 single malt whisky's. Samenstelling: 40% van een distilleerderij nabij Aberlour van sherry butt, 25% Teaninich van wijnvat, 8% Deanston van refill sherry butt, 7% Deanston van refill hogshead, 5% Glen Elgin van recharred barrels en 15 % Highland blended malt van zwaar getoaste vaten van Frans Eikenhout.
Tastingnotes Serge Valentin. whiskyfun.com. 87 points.
The Story of the Spaniard (43%, Compass Box, blended malt, 2018)
I find it a little surprising that they would have bottled this new expression at 43% vol. and not at 46. As the name suggests, there’s a good proportion of sherry casks inside. Colour: light gold, so no big first fill wood. Nose: we’re very far from a sherry monster, this is rather a slightly buttery, pastry-ish malt with nice whiffs of oranges (several kinds) and apple pie, stewed apricots, a hint of rhubarb pie… and, well, more and more cooked rhubarb. Which I always enjoy! Mouth: excellent. I was a little afraid, but I was wrong. Maple syrup, honeys, oranges, more rhubarb, and just a touch of cherries. Morellos. The 43% vol. work well, actually. Finish: medium, rather on honeyed pastries. Baklavas and assorted oriental compadres. Comments: it appears that there is a lot of Clynelish inside this well-mannered blended malt, but I don’t think the famous Highlander is very dominant. Anyway, the chef seems to have stayed in the kitchen (I know what I’m trying to say).
SGP:541 - 87 points.