Richard-ModernDrinking
Compass Box Great King St Glasgow Blend Sherried Marrying Cask Selected by Houston Bourbon Society
Blended — Scotland
Reviewed
December 27, 2018 (edited October 21, 2024)
My whisky resolution for 2019 is to get back to basics. Digressions this year into single cask bottlings have disappointed more often than they’ve enlightened. The first-fill sherry casks in particular, with one notable Springbank exception, have only served to underscore the magic of refill wood. And the abundance of high octane samples coming through my door have mostly reminded me that I like my whisky best at 46-50%. There’s no better rejoinder to the cult of the single cask than a good blend, and few better blenders than Compass Box, even if the increase in prices and releases this year has tested the loyalty of its fans. No sooner has the novelty of the Great King St Artist’s Blend marrying casks worn off than along comes this sherried cask finish of the Glasgow version, itself a sherry cask variation on the original blend. That makes this a derivative of a derivative, for those keeping score at home. A little more than 300 bottles were filled for the Houston Bourbon Society and Houston Wine Merchant at an ABV of 49%, of which a sample found its way to Modern Drinking HQ.
The nose is peanut skins, buttered toast and a hint of shoe polish, a balanced combination of sherry and malty notes. It’s lusciously syrupy in the mouth, with a creamy and lightly sweet flavor akin to toasted pecans. The finish is very long and smooth, with a pleasant hint of freshly planed pine wood. This is a delicious blend that’s significantly better than the original Glasgow bottling and also the marrying cask versions of the Artist’s Blend. It’s an easy, undemanding dram that feels like a vacation after the hard work of analyzing single casks. While my inner whisky geek will no doubt struggle next year to resist opportunities for tasting exotic casks from obscure distilleries, here’s hoping my better angels steer me more towards the less demanding choices. Except for that single cask Springbank I hinted at above. Of course I’m getting that. A man’s principles can only go so far.
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@Richard-ModernDrinking True :-). I was more meaning people who don't want to go outside their comfort zone full stop rather than the situation we are in where we have so much variety to choose from we just can't do it all. As PBM says first world problems!
@LeeEvolved I just read an article of one Reddit whiskey blogger that was giving a video review, and you can see his wife packing and leaving him in the background.
@Richard-ModernDrinking @PBMichiganWolverine - my philosophy on bottle count is simple: if I’m not tripping over one on my way to the bathroom, then I have room for more.
Ahhh...the burden of having First World Problems
@Soba45 That philosophy works until you realize there’s more you want to try than your wallet and liver can afford and that you already have enough bottles and samples to last a lifetime.
@cascode Definitely agree. It still surprises me when people don't want to try anything but what they like.. I'm like well if you hadn't tried what you liked for the first time you wouldn't be still drinking it now!
@Richard-ModernDrinking Excellent review, and an interesting conversation topic. I like to keep a balance of expressions in the cabinet to cover all the bases - lots of different spirits, high proof, low proof, blends, etc. I've been through phases of only buying SMWS and other IB single barrel issues, and then other times just buying lower shelf blends or OB single malts. In the end I decided that variety is the key to ongoing discovery, education and keeping the palate fresh. This year I plan to spend a lot more on sherry and fortified wines.
Gees look at us...all these noble NY resolutions to buy and drink less..see how long they all last haha :-). I'll be jumping on the bandwagon though. My last (3) bottle purchase was mid year. One I mostly gave away, one I returned (first time ever) and one is pretty much just sitting there with my drinking to giving away ratio at 1:5. So not great value for money.... I've just done one more 45 sample lot from MoM and with the other 75 I have and 20 something unopened bottles that should do me for most of the year I'm thinking.. bar any random bar sessions :-)
@Richard-ModernDrinking my cousin smartly pointed out that if I drink one bottle a day, I should be done with all my bottles in 18 months. On the downside, I’ll have AA on speed dial
@Generously_Paul That was my busted 2018 resolution. I’ve been trying to follow a regime of two out, one in, but the collection of bottles and samples seems to only get bigger.
My resolution for 2019 is to take care of my backlog of samples and buy less, focus on what I’ve currently got. Not sure I can hold to any of those
@PBMichiganWolverine That’s a lot of bottles!
@Richard-ModernDrinking great review. And I like the 2019 goal. Mine: reduce my bottle footprint by 30% either by selling or sharing