By Richard Thomas Rating: B As most whiskey fans already know, single malts aren’t limited just to Scotland. When it comes to the choice of grains that go into whiskey making, the core of any tradition always boils down to local agriculture. Ireland and Lowland Scotland aren’t so far apart in terms of climate, and therefore the respective farmers of ...

By Richard Thomas Rating: B+ The Whiskey Reviewer first explored Compass Box’s interest in high quality French oak when we reviewed their acclaimed scotch, The Spice Tree. The Oak Cross scotch is another expression of that French oak connection. One of the innovations at Compass Box was the notion that French oak had more applications than just aging French wine. ...

By Richard Thomas Rating: A- In some circles, it is whispered that The Spice Tree is the whisk(e)y is the scotch the larger scotch industry doesn’t want you to have. Micro-distillery Compass Box first launched The Spice Tree in 2005, but were forced to discontinue production by the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) under threat of legal action. The SWA objected ...

By Richard Thomas Rating: B- Johnnie Walker Green Label is noteworthy in my book as the first entry in the Johnnie Walker line I actually like. Johnnie Walker Red Label is the sort of bottom-barrel whiskey fit only for mixed drinks, and I think the Black Label is often overrated. It is in its Green Label that Johnnie Walker finally ...