LouisianaLonghorn
Compass Box Great King St Glasgow Blend
Blended — Scotland
Reviewed
August 8, 2020 (edited September 7, 2020)
Blended Scotch often gets a bad rap, and in many cases, rightfully so perhaps, but this one is certainly worth a look. I’ve always enjoyed and appreciated the thought and craftsmanship that Compass Box puts into their products, and it seems with their Great King Street line they’ve sought to dispel the notion that blends are just bottom shelf slag.
Being a blend, this is both malt and grain whiskies. It’s got peated malt (Laphroaig), sherried malt (Benrines), highland malt (Clynleesh...which I can only assume John Glasser is a minority stakeholder in by now), and well aged grain whisky from either Cameronbridgre or North British. Any blend with peated malt, especially Laphroaig, runs the risk of it overpowering the other elements. Thankfully that doesn’t happen here. This is a thoughtful and tasty marriage of peat, sherry, and grain. Really the holy grail for Scotch. And for $40 no less.
The nose is my favorite part. One of those noses that changes a bit each time you go in. Sometimes peat, sometimes gentle sherry, even sometimes the sweetness from the grain. The palate matches the nose. The peat manages to be present without overpowering the other flavors. The sherry sands off the harsher elements of the Laphroaig (a malt I tend not to enjoy on its own), and the grain adds a creamy, rounded depth to the taste. The finish is drying and medium length.
Easy 4 star dram for me. Extra .25 for value. Big thanks to @Richard-ModernDrinking and @ScotchingHard for their upbeat reviews to help me pull the trigger on this one. Forget Highland Park 12. This is the new “great all rounder” in Scotch.
40.0
USD
per
Bottle
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Nice review. This is a great combo of sherry and smoke
@WhiskeyLonghorn Lol. I feel the same way about @dubz480 Costco’s in AZ. Their inventory is legit, with unreal [reasonable] prices to boot. If Texas allows alcohol shipping, you can prolly order it online from TW&M ($54.99). If that doesn’t work, open to explore other options.
@Anthology what the heck! None of the five Total Wine stores in Austin cary those! I feel like we’re getting a raw deal 🙃
@Richard-ModernDrinking They also have a marrying cask barrel select for The Artist’s Blend
@Richard-ModernDrinking Total Wine & More
@WhiskeyLonghorn Thanks for the rec.
@Anthology which store has that pick? Curious as they’re not very common
@ContemplativeFox if you can’t find Asyla, who’s has in fact been “retired”, Oak Cross is a highly agreeable substitute. Great summer whisky.
Thanks @Anthology . I'll take a turn through some stores around here and see if it's sitting on the back of any of their shelves.
@PBMichiganWolverine @WhiskeyLonghorn @Richard-ModernDrinking @bigwhitemike Thanks for the insightful PoVs. I’m definitely picking this up. I may just get both and do a side-by-side. @Richard-ModernDrinking I think the store pick is an oloroso sherry marrying cask. @ContemplativeFox I think you can still find Asyla in the wild. There’s a couple SoCal retailers that had it on the shelves last time I was in there not too long ago (sub $50)
Thanks, @PBMichiganWolverine . I haven't ever seen the Asyla before, so I think it's probably discontinued. I'll have to pick this one up when the opportunity arises!
@ContemplativeFox I think these Great King street at top spot, followed by Oak Cross. I really liked Asyla as well, a bit Of a refreshing summer one, but I think that might be discontinued now
@PBMichiganWolverine Any particular member(s) of the Compass Box core range that you find to be better VFM than even the others?
@WhiskeyLonghorn @Anthology this along with their other core ranges are probably best VFM blends
@Anthology To me, the appeal of this blend is the respectable taste at a rockstar price = $32 in my market. The higher proof store picks are generally all asking $50 (and don't seem to be moving off the shelves - probably a perception thing as they are squarely competing with quality 12-year single malts. I'd bet the store picks are comparable, so maybe a matter of preference. Either way, still not an expensive bottle to take a waiver on.
@Anthology It depends on the type of marrying cask, though the higher proof alone may be worth it. I have a sherry cask one from Passion Vines in NJ.
@Anthology I haven’t but @Richard-ModernDrinking says that that store picks get longer ageing in sherry casks after they’re blended. I’d say go for it.
"I’ve been eyeing this bottle, so thanks for the thumbs-up review @WhiskeyLonghorn @ScotchingHard. I’m going back and forth between grabbing the standard version vs. the barrel select/store pick, single marrying cask. On average, store picks tend to outperform standard releases but not sure if that applies here...especially since there’s an additional $10 - $15 premium for the store pick. Any chance either of you tried the store pick and/or your thoughts in general on this “doomsday” dilemma?"
Wow, a better buy than Highland Park 12?! I need to try this.
Very happy that I’m helping folks with finding worthwhile liquor. Glad you enjoyed this as much as me!