Compass Box Great King St Artist's Blend The Unholy Triumvirate Single Marrying Cask #1

Thanks to a friend, I'm sampling more versions of the Compass Box Great King St Artist’s Blend Single Marrying Cask. This is Artist’s Blend returned to casks used for the initial blend and aged an additional year, then bottled near cask strength. This specific cask (No 1), bottled at 49% ABV, provides a deeper look at what the Artist’s Blend could be if allowed to mature longer. In the Glencairn, it’s yellow gold and looks somewhat thin with many quick-forming, runny legs. A pleasant oily film lingers, but significant water was likely added to reach bottling strength, though it’s still 6% higher than the standard AB. The nose starts grainy with bright lemon zest. The oak presence is subtle, but a nice juicy fruit gum note is noticeable throughout. Waxy malt notes are also detected. The palate is a bit fruitier than the original Artist’s Blend. It’s lemon-smooth on the tongue, supported by a pleasant oak barrel foundation that gives it good structure. This is superior to the Bounty Hunter Cask #69 I reviewed previously. The finish is brief, but oily and warming. I might prefer this even more than the widely available Artist and Glasgow Blends. Ultimately, this is very close to a 4-star dram. The juicy notes elevate it, and it maintains the smooth, waxy quality typical of Compass Box whiskies. It’s unfortunate this is a limited release, as I’d happily keep a bottle or two on hand. My thanks again to my friend. I anticipate trying the other samples. Cheers.

This spirit drinks more like a single malt Speyside than its heritage suggests. Without question, Compass Box makes the finest blended scotch & malts available! A gifted distiller, who coined the term himself, created this product with his company, founded in the year 2000. As the name implies, his goal was to produce excellent whisky, which he achieved with his delicious blends. He sourced grain and malt whiskies from various distilleries in the UK and constantly experimented with endless combinations of woods and spirits. Early on, the founder also demonstrated marketing genius. His well-aged whiskies featured expensive label designs and clear acrylic packaging, making them a favorite among collectors and the affluent. However, as time passed, an abundance of lower-quality offerings from the company seemed to diminish their once-revered image. Difficulties before and during the COVID-19 pandemic prompted the company to seek new investment from Bacardi and private equity, which ultimately led to the founder's departure in 2024. Bottle signed by the founder in 2nd photo.

Another sample I brought along for a business trip to Orlando. This is again thanks to a friend. Between the 31, 68, and this one, the 31 was my favorite so far. This has a pleasant fruity palate, almost like lemon drops. If I had to choose between the regular Artist blend and this one, I'd pick this one by a small margin over the regular. Thanks to my friend!

A malty lemon aroma. Flavors of Custard Cream biscuits that transition into honey throat lozenges. Consult cask #31 for further information on this series.