The Spice Tree Extravaganza CB (Compass Box)

The Spice Tree Extravaganza CB (Compass Box) is a blended malt Scotch from Compass Box. It marries single malts from more than one distillery, Clynelish among them. A coastal maturation lends a faint brine to the waxy, oily spirit.

Clynelish's famous wax is the kind of malt that lifts a blend. Ex-Bourbon casks held it, the soft oak letting the waxy citrus lead. Years in oak round the spirit, the citrus deepening to orange and tropical fruit. A coastal maturation lends a faint brine to the oily, waxy malt. It is the heart malt of Johnnie Walker Gold Label, and a sought after single malt in its own right. The clean, oily spirit shows the cask clearly, vanilla and honey over the wax. The wax sits at the heart of the spirit, the cask building fruit and honey around it. Water comes from the Clynemilton Burn, the spirit drawn off three wash and three spirit stills. Vanillin and oak lactones from the wood lend vanilla and coconut over the wax.

Reduced to 46%, it is supple. A waxy, oily texture runs through it, with citrus, honey and a coastal lift. Beneath it run candle wax, lemon and a coastal salt. The finish is long, waxy and citrussy. A characterful blended malt Scotch.