Compass Box Great King St Artist's Blend

Solid. Basic

Nose - apple, pear, honey, vanilla, floral notes, lemon zest, powdered sugar, hay, orange blossom, buttered bread, moderate ethanol burn. Taste - apple skin, honey, creamy vanilla, pear, black pepper, floral notes, lemon and orange zest, ginger, mint, bitter herbal notes, butter, mild to moderate alcohol bite, finishing medium length with apple, black pepper, bitter herbal, and tannic apple skin flavors. I wanted to like this more, given the glowing reviews I’ve read about it. Artist’s Blend is light, fruity, and floral on the nose. The palate is similar, but more pepper and bitter herbal notes appear. I think this is sippable, but it’s not a sipper. It’s not sulphuric, meaty, or industrial like some of the cheap blended scotches, but those apple skin tannins and bitter herbal notes become rather unpleasant the more I work through the dram. As a mixer, this performs nicely. However, I’m not sure it’s worth paying $40 a bottle for this when Dewar’s and some of the other usual suspects can be had for half the price. This is absolutely better than Dewar’s and I’d much rather sip it, but I know I’m never going to use this as a sipper. I haven’t performed the comparison yet, but in the realm of cocktails, I wonder whether it’s worth paying the premium for this over something like Dewar’s. Maybe some of you blended scotch cocktail experts out there can tell me I’m crazy and using that Dewar’s swill is tantamount to sacrilege. Is the quality of mixed drinks this will produce worth paying twice the price to achieve it?

Pleasant, easy, and with some character. Tasting notes match the description from prior reviews. Another winner from Compass Box.

Very good scotch with a sweet aftertaste.

Yes. I did like the Artist Blend quite a lot. Then again, I'm yet to meet a Compass Box I haven't.