Oooph, this is a blend I could fall in love with, especially at the price. Compass Box Great King St Glasgow Blend is exceptional not just because of what was created, but how it was created. At 34% grain they had my brain hooked because the typical proportions of grain to single malts had switched a bit and it seemed like they were going for something a bit more esoteric, a TRUE blend of both different distilleries AND styles. Unique indeed.

It doesn’t seem like this is a haphazard blend that starts at 80% grain whisky and fades into “tradition”, but a an actual purpose-built blend that honors and explores the beauty that can come from blending types and styles. The Compass Box Great King St Glasgow Blend review is something I’ve been looking forward to doing for a while now and so without further adieu, let’s get down to business.

Whiskey Review: Compass Box Great King St Glasgow Blend

In Compass Box’s Words: Compass Box Great King St Glasgow Blend

“In his 1930s book ‘Whisky’, Aeneas McDonald teaches us that Glaswegians historically preferred fuller bodied and more flavour-packed whiskies than people in other parts of the world. So what better name for a whisky such as this? Full, rich and smoky on the palate, with notes of baking spices and sherry wine notes.”

Compass Box Great King St Glasgow Blend price, ABV, age and other details

Region: Scotland

Blender: Compass Box
Blend: 34% Grain (Cameron Bridge) & 66% Malt (35% Benrinnes, 17% Laphroaig, 8% Clynelish, 2% Miltonduff, 4% Highland Malt (60% Clynelish, 20% Dailuaine, 20% Teaninich))
Cask: ex-Bourbon, ex-Sherry, Rejuvenated Hogshead, French Oak Hybrid
Age: NAS
ABV: 43%

Non-Chill Filtered | Natural Color

Price: $35

Compass Box Great King St Glasgow Blend Tasting Notes

EYE
Light amber

NOSE
Smoked sea salt, orchard fruit, nuts, marshmallow, spice, honey, plastic, and a bit of caramel.

PALATE
Smoke, honey, fruit, nuts, caramel, spice, plastic, vanilla and a bit of oaky char.

FINISH
Long -> Smoke, honey, fruit, vanilla and plastic.

BALANCE, BODY & FEEL
Good sense of balance, medium body and a soft supple feel.

Compass Box Great King St Glasgow Blend Review – OVERALL

The aroma is the best part of the Compass Box Great King St Glasgow Blend. It’s “lightly peated”, crisp and nuanced. The palate drifts through with a bit of a BBQ characteristic and the finish fades out dominated by the smoke. None of it bad, but nothing in this whisky compares to the way it smells.

When I first went through this whisky I didn’t get much of a grain note even though I knew it was in there and when I looked up the proportions online I wasn’t surprised it was only 34%. This is how more blends should be constructed, the grain stretching out the malt but not replacing the essential malty character.

I like the Compass Box Great King St Glasgow Blend. This is definitely something that I could drink now and then when I just want something simple and peaty to sip on while working on stuff around the apartment. And at the price, it’s easy to do just that.

SCORE: 84/100 (B)

The post Compass Box Great King St Glasgow Blend Review appeared first on The Whiskey Jug.