North Star Spica 20 Year Old Blended Scotch Whisky (700ml)

The first edition of North Star’s 20 Year Old ‘Spica’ is a cask strength grain and malt blend named after part of the constellation of Virgo, the 16th brightest star in the sky. Distilled in 1997 and matured in both European and American oak barrels, 1000 bottles are available world wide. Sold out in the UK, and no wonder - it's incredibly affordable for its age. We have a small allocation.

Tasting note: Deep burnished copper / autumn leaf brown. Looks like a sherry bomb. Initial inhalations are slightly prickly, developing hints of roasted nuts, fruit cake, orange zest, pepper, raw sugar and vanilla (a little like well aged rum). Slightly lean and leathery on entry. Warm and spiced up delivery is dryish with restrained sherry input and a touch of sulphur through the aftertaste - a bit like an 'old fashioned' sherry style. So concentrated and spirity, this feels like a much higher strength. Best with water. 45.2% Alc./Vol.

Other reviews... Colour: amber. Nose: This feels like rather a high malt content with these nice notes of Christmas cake, apple compote, liquorice and prune jelly. Also some figs, mulling spice and celery salt. Some greener apple and cider notes come in time along with some sharper wood spices. Mouth: the grain is a little more lively here but there’s still a richness and a breadiness which gives a nice sense of roundness and texture. Some oatmeal flapjack, orange marmalade and limoncello. Also some rather biting spiciness, rye bread and cedar wood. Good. Finish: Medium length, with some grainy bite, notes of blood orange, mustard powder and a touch of aniseed. Comments: A simple but perfectly pleasing thing to sip if and when winter ever returns. I liked the roundness that the sherry influence brought to proceedings. 84 points - whisky-fun.com