Picking through my mass of samples I decided to go with something light on ABV tonight. Great King Street Glasgow Blend from Compass Box at 43% ABV should fit the bill nicely. This is CBW’s budget scotch along with its sister bottle the Artist Blend. @LeeEvolved sent me this sample quite a while ago (along with many others) so it’s about time it got to it. There are many different components to this blend that I’m not going to list, but it’s 1/3 grain and 2/3 malt whiskies. As with all Compass Box expressions, this is non chill filtered and natural color, this one is pale straw. The nose is very light and delicate, not what I was expecting and not a good start. Faint smoke (Laphroaig is one of the malts being used) and lightly fruity. The grain components come through with vanilla and coconut, thankfully there is no harshness to it. A distant waxiness, and a just as distant sherry note. The whole profile is incredibly light and hard to pick anything out. Some berries and a bit of a rubbery/latex note. The Laphroaig becomes more dominant, but there wasn’t much there to dominate to begin with. Some of the classic Laphroaig medicinal notes and a bit of candy sweetness. A real disappointment of a nose. The palate begins with the classic Laphroaig signature peat and smoke along with the medicinal, bandaid, iodine and campfire ash notes. All those, but turned down to a 4 vs the real deal that’s at a 10. Faint oak and sawdust, vanilla, grain alcohol and coconut. Ever so soft sherry, raisins/grapes and nuttiness. Not as much of a letdown as the nose, but not far off. A light bodied mouthfeel that is thin and watery. The finish is short, almost nonexistent. Some smoke and vanilla but that’s it. This is by far the worst CBW I’ve ever had. Other than the Laphroaig peat smoke there is very little here of any substance. Almost no finish at all, the nose is too soft and subtle. The only saving grace is the peat on the palate. For $40 there are far better blends and even single malts out there. This might be ok in a cocktail as it should be easily hidden. 2.5 and I do not recommend buying it. Cheers