Compass Box Great King Street Artist Blend Scotch Review

By Richard Thomas

Rating: B+

I first wrote up Compass Box’s Great King Street Artist’s Blend in Spring 2012, and we are fast coming upon the 10th anniversary. Much has changed in that decade, not just for Compass Box, but for this specific brand. Created as the standard bearer for Compass Box’s line of artfully and independently blended Scotch whiskies (their other regular offerings are more tailored, such as the smoky Peat Monster and the blended grain whisky Hendonism), it has since seen a handful of limited edition releases, one of which served as the basis for a brand extension, Great King Street Glasgow Blend. Nowadays, the label for this expression may not even bear the name “Great King Street,” and simply says “Artist Blend.”

Artist’s Blend itself has changed over time, as Master Blender John Glaser has adjusted the recipe. Early reviews like my own note the blend was almost 50% malt whisky, a proportion that was notable at the time, as most blended whiskies have a lower proportion of malt whisky in them. The current fact sheet says this has actually increased, up to “approximately” 55%, and the constituents are more clearly defined:

• Clynelish malt, first-fill bourbon barrels (24%)
• Clynelish malt, refill hogshead (14%)
• Linkwood malt, first-fill Sherry butt (2%)
• Highland malt blend, custom and heavily toasted French oak cask (12%)
• Cameronbridge grain whisky, first-fill bourbon barrels (48%)

And yes, that adds up to 52% grain. As I wrote, what goes in the bottles has clearly been tweaked at least once this last decade. But the whisky itself remains excellent, un-chill filtered, and is still bottled at 43% ABV. Indeed, the flavor profile has remained remarkably consistent, so much so that I have a fun suggestion for anyone who has a bottle from the early 2010s on hand: do a blind taste test of the older bottle and a brand new one, and see if any of your Scotch-loving friends can even tell them apart.

The Scotch
In the glass, Great King Street has a pleasant mid-yellow color, reminiscent of a decarbonated Pilsner. The nose is sweet, soft one in the main, but with a crisp tinge on the trailing edge. It’s laden with apples and pears, with a
decidedly grainy note.

The whisky has an understated flavor, richly sweet while remaining subtle enough that no flavor really dominates the others. The whiskey tastes something like a well-baked apple pie, rich in apple and vanilla notes, but alongside that are strong hints of wood and peat. The finish is richly oaky, with the sweetness shifting to focus on the accompanying vanilla.

The Price
In the US, this offering goes for between $30 and $40 with retailers. Another change is the size of the bottle; gone is the 50 cl, replaced by 700 and 750 ml containers.