Spica 20 Year Old 1997 North Star Spirits

North Star Spirits, who have only been active since 2016, are quickly building up an ironclad reputation. Next to quite a few fantastic single casks bottlings (already 5 series so far) of both single malt and grain whisky, Ian Croucher has also launched quite a few blended malts, a Tennessee whiskey and even a fortified wine. Now he adds a blend that listens to the name Spica. This is the 16th brightest star in our heaven and part of Virgo. But I digress. All components, both malt and grain, have matured for at least 20 years on European and American oak.

Good nose. I get very sweet notes of toffee apples, peppernuts (a Dutch treat similar to gingerbread), maple syrup and a truckload of mildly burnt caramel. Some almonds and slighty rotted wood (no offnote!). It also offers up some rosewater and fresh hay, but all the way in the back. Having said that, this nose is led by the syrup of marasquin!

The arrival is quite syrupy. Good body and immediately somewhat spicy. Cinnamon, liquorice, nutmeg. The fruity quickly turns dark: dades, blue grapes, plums. A bloodorange. Becomes slightly drying towards the end.

While the finish could have been longer in my opinion, it is satisfying and sweet.

A liquid dessert, I say. And I do feel the part malt whisky is rather high. Unfortunately not easy to find anymore. Thanks for the sample, Marcel.