Compass Box Oak Cross Scotch Whisky (75cl, 43%)

A blended malt Scotch whisky from Compass Box, made from Highland single malts and bottled at 43% in a 75cl bottle. It is natural colour and non-chill-filtered. The name refers to the crossing of American and French oak. The malts were first aged in first-fill American oak, then given a second maturation in hybrid casks with American oak bodies and heavily toasted new French oak heads. Compass Box built these casks after the Scotch Whisky Association stopped its earlier Spice Tree stave method, and the whisky was discontinued at the end of 2021. It is rich and medium-bodied, with vanilla from the American oak, spicy clove-like notes from the French oak, baked apple and pear, and a toasty oak character.