Compass Box The Story of the Spaniard
Compass Box The Story of the Spaniard is a blended malt Scotch whisky bottled at 43% ABV (86 proof) in a 750mL bottle — and it is available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA. Built on Spanish wine casks — Spanish red wine, Sherry and virgin French oak — it is Compass Box's ode to sherry-aged whisky: full, soft and sumptuous, rated 94 points by Wine Enthusiast.
- ABV: 43% (86 proof) — natural colour, non-chill-filtered
- Size: 750mL
- Age: No age statement
- Origin: Scotland
- Production: Malt whiskies aged in Spanish wine casks (Spanish red wine, Sherry, virgin French oak); batch releases — cask mix varies year to year
Inspired by a Greenwich Village Bar
The Story of the Spaniard began with a bespoke whisky Compass Box made for a bar called The Spaniard in New York's Greenwich Village — and the name also nods to founder John Glaser's first encounter with Sherry while travelling in southern Spain. First released in 2018 and issued in batches (the batch number is printed on the back label), it is a blended malt — all malt whisky, no grain — aged in Spanish red wine casks, Sherry casks and virgin French oak. The exact cask mix varies year to year by availability, but Spanish Sherry and wine casks are always a permanent component, keeping the full, soft, sumptuous sherry character. Wine Enthusiast gave it 94 points, noting sherried fruit, orange peel and orange blossom over a vanilla-forward, relatively dry palate with espresso, leather and black pepper. Among Scotch whiskies, it is the sherry lover's Compass Box — and the full Compass Box collection shows the blender's full range.
Tasting Notes
Full, soft and sumptuous: citrus peel, pears poached in red wine and spices on the nose and palate. The finish is long — vanilla panna cotta, berries and cherries.
How to Enjoy
Neat in a tulip glass to catch the sherry aromatics, or with a single large cube. It is a natural after-dinner pour alongside dark chocolate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Story of the Spaniard a blended malt? Yes — Compass Box classifies it as a Blended Malt Scotch Whisky (all malt, no grain); it is not a blended Scotch.
What casks are used in The Story of the Spaniard? Spanish wine casks — Spanish red wine and Sherry casks plus virgin French oak; the exact mix varies by batch, with sherry/wine casks always part of the blend.
What does The Story of the Spaniard taste like? Citrus peel and pears poached in red wine with spice; a long finish of vanilla panna cotta, berries and cherries — full, soft and sumptuous.
The Story of the Spaniard is waiting at Del Mesa Liquor — order online and have this 94-point sherry-cask blend shipped in San Diego, CA.