Compass Box Artist Blend

This is my second encounter with this whisky. I recently acquired a bottle at Gaspar's Liquor Shoppe in Tampa for the suggested price ($38.99). It's a selection from the Tampa Bay Whisky Society. I tasted it neat from a glencairn glass. Let's dive in. The pour displays a very light golden yellow hue, similar to Mellow Corn. When swirled, it shows significant sheeting with small, slow-moving legs forming on the glass. The aroma presents honeysuckle, dry grass, ripe orchard fruits, a hint of sweet sugar, and a touch of vanilla. It's not intricate, but it offers slightly more character than the average blend. The texture is smooth and refined. It's easily enjoyed neat or with a small addition. I'm eager to try it over ice, and it might even make a fantastic highball with club soda. This particular offering from Compass Box is 49% ABV, 98 proof. It's more robust than nearly any blend I've experienced. On the palate, the Compass Box is full of honey, sweet vanilla, and almost a Juicy Fruit note... It's very enjoyable initially, but the finish is somewhat different. Due to the proof, there's a bit of pepper and a long, wonderful finish. It leaves a sweet coating on the mouth, and after swallowing, the capsaicin emerges, warming the palate all the way to the chest. MARVELOUS! In contrast, the Dewar's Ancestor is smokier, earthier, and possesses more characteristics I associate with grain alcohol. There's no trace of grain or acetone notes in the Compass Box. I didn't truly detect any in the Dewar's, but in comparison, they are present. When compared to Dewar's 12-year-old ($25 on sale), it has a more briny, oceanic aroma with a bit more smoke and less of the sweetness. A tiny bit of distilled water further enhances the aroma of the Compass Box. The Dewar's becomes a bit more briny with water, but the Compass Box achieves a better separation of fragrant floral notes. I believe a drop of water nicely unifies the Compass Box. It might even benefit from an ice cube. It's certainly an excellent whisky for warmer weather! This Compass Box is a superior whisky to the Dewar's, period. It's bolder, richer, more complex, and has a higher proof. It's not as smoky or peaty as the Dewar's, but the two are otherwise comparable in quality. That said, this isn't perfect. The sweetness is excessive, and the pepper is imbalanced. It's good, not exceptional. The Dewar's was on sale for $25, but its suggested retail price is $30. Compass Box typically ranges from $40 to $45. Is it worth a 33% higher cost? Should you choose the Compass Box over the Dewar's 12? Yes, if you're drinking it neat. Yes, if you desire something more complex and sweet. Not necessarily if you're drinking it on ice or in a highball. And perhaps if you're making cocktails, but it depends on the specific cocktail. They might share some profile similarities, but they are not equivalent nor interchangeable. So, my rating... I evaluate on a bell curve where the average mass-market spirit scores around 2.5 stars. To reach 4 stars, a whisky must be truly excellent. This expression doesn't quite reach that level, but it surpasses the blended competition. This is a solid 3.5, and it offers good value. Well done, and I will certainly explore some of the other Compass Box offerings!

It's fascinating to track the evolution of whisky production and consumption. It appears that what's popular shifts through the decades and centuries, much like fashion, political movements, and the baking soda in my refrigerator. For a very long time, blended whisky was the favored drink of both the common person and the elite, while single malts were either low-quality or unavailable to the public. It wasn't until the late 70s and 80s that marketing executives decided to promote single malts to the prominent status we recognize (and pay for) today, relegating blends to the bottom shelf and the back of the store. I've always appreciated the innovative approach of Compass Box, with a focus on history. This blend and its counterpart, the Glasgow blend, clearly pay homage to that heritage. What comes to mind when you think of Scotch Grain Whisky? Perhaps the harsh, metallic notes of JW Red or Cutty Sark? Or maybe it's considered inferior and obscure compared to your preferred single malts? Have you heard of North British or Cameronbridge? What about soft, creamy, coconut, and vanilla? It might not be what you'd anticipate, but that's what you'll find in the Artist's blend. Awaken your senses to a bright nose of grass, hay, apples, pears, sage, white pepper, graham crackers, and cream. It initially feels a bit thin on the palate but then develops into peaches and cream, vanillas, lemon bars, macaroons... it's like having pastries in a glass! The finish takes an unexpected turn, transitioning to a drier, spicier mouthfeel that persists for a moderate to long duration. There are no harsh notes. No metallic flavors. Just a pleasant drink. Subsequent sips remain consistent, and the finish intensifies on the palate with continued drinking. So, at the moment I'm writing this, it's about 106 degrees outside. I enjoy my high-proof bourbons and sherry or peat-heavy whiskies as much as anyone, but when it's this hot, I prefer something light to sip. This fits the bill perfectly. For those new to whisky or seeking a good introduction to Scotch, this is your dram. It's highly representative of the Highland/Speyside style, and comes at 43% ABV, non-chill filtered, with complete transparency from the production team (Take notes, Diageo!). If you follow the Whisky Vault channel and have tried Monkey Shoulder, this is comparable, though I believe the grain whisky component adds a bit more complexity. Final score is 3.5, with an additional.25 for value. Cheers!

Nose: sherried, raspberry, creamy, oak, blackberry jam, and a touch of toffee and vanilla. Palate: rich tannic sherry, white pepper, oak, and a fine sweet taste of honey and stewed apple. Good, but not as good as the nose. Finish: medium-long, reminiscent of a 15yo Linkwood I tried. Not surprising, as 8% is Linkwood in sherry casks. _-_-_-_-_-_-_-_- Last 16, Match 1: Compass Box King St. Artists Blend versus Dewar’s The Ancestor 12yo The Ancestor 12yo never stood a chance. Beaten on all three fronts – the Dewar's grainy nose was rather nondescript, the palate was grain, butter, shortbread with some tart citrus, and the finish was short and dry. Do kids say “wipeout!” these days? _-_-_-_-_-_-_-_- Qtr Final, Match 1: Compass Box King St. Artists Blend versus Ben Nevis 10yo Raspberry and cream stand out when trying this again, but I also detected toffee and blackberry jam. The palate is good but not as good as the nose. Against the Ben Nevis 10yo, it's better on the nose and finish, but lags considerably on the palate. Reluctantly, I must admit that Ben Nevis may be on the losing side to this great blend. _-_-_-_-_-_-_-_- The intolerable torment of a whiskyphile. I have too large a backlog of samples and miniatures to go through. Like selecting what to watch next on Netflix, often selecting a dram can take twice as long as drinking it. Taking inspiration from a friend and a podcast, I have picked sixteen scotch whiskies that are 12yrs or younger or NAS to battle it out in a Scotch Deathmatch. It’s my incentive to lighten the logjam. Follow along if you care (and really why should you?). Oh the drama! https://challonge.com/ScotchMadness

Nose: Raspberries and cream. Peach, honey, and florals (perhaps roses, though my specific flower identification is unreliable). Tea and driftwood with a possible light hint of smoke. A subtle touch of medicinal mint or menthol. A tiny splash of water in a Glencairn glass releases a bit of stone and orchard fruit, but it feels as though this blend isn't holding much back – it already smells wonderful. Palate: Abundant vanilla, caramel, followed by apples. The raspberries and cream are still present, but less prominent and pushed to the background. It has a dried berry character. Subtle hints of leather and, like the nose, perhaps a touch of smoke. The finish brings cinnamon spice, a tannic and drying sensation with a mild bitterness that fluctuates against the spice. Dried fruit occasionally interacts with the spice and mingles with the bitterness. The finish also closely resembles a good bourbon, more so than most scotches I've sampled, giving it a somewhat American feel. (According to the Compass Box website, 72% of the component whiskies were aged in first-fill bourbon casks, which might explain that bourbon character.) I thoroughly enjoyed this. The nose is distinctive and showcases the breadth achievable with blended scotch. The palate is a step down from the nose in terms of complexity, but that's not necessarily negative and feels appropriate here. The bold, bourbon-esque spicy finish is quite intense for a blended scotch, but unless you actively dislike bourbon, it's an interesting exploration of the ideas presented in this bottle. Furthermore, like the Glasgow blend, this is a dram offering excellent value.

Aroma: apple, pear, honey, vanilla, floral notes, lemon zest, powdered sugar, hay, orange blossom, buttered bread, and a moderate ethanol burn. Flavor: apple skin, honey, creamy vanilla, pear, black pepper, floral notes, lemon and orange zest, ginger, mint, bitter herbal notes, butter, with a mild to moderate alcohol bite. The finish is medium length with flavors of apple, black pepper, bitter herbal, and tannic apple skin. I had hoped to appreciate this more, based on the enthusiastic reviews I've encountered. Artist's Blend presents a light, fruity, and floral aroma. The palate is similar, but with added pepper and bitter herbal notes. I find it drinkable, but not ideal for sipping. It lacks the sulphuric, meaty, or industrial character of some inexpensive blended scotches, but those apple skin tannins and bitter herbal notes become rather off-putting the more I sample it. It functions well as a mixer. However, I question if it's worth the $40 per bottle price when Dewar's and comparable options are available for half that. This is definitely superior to Dewar's, and I would prefer to sip it, but I know I'll never use it for sipping. I haven't done the comparison yet, but in the context of cocktails, I wonder if paying a premium for this over something like Dewar's is justified. Perhaps some of you who are experts in blended scotch cocktails could inform me if using that Dewar's swill is considered sacrilege. Is the quality of mixed drinks this produces worth double the price to achieve?

Rating: 13/23 Nose: Sweetness with gentle wood notes (slight barrel spice) creating a nectar-like sensation. Creamy texture with sultanas and perhaps a touch of tangerine. A faint trace of meat and paper. Not incredibly complex, but generally quite good. Palate: Initially, sweet nectar (light sultana with a hint of tangerine tartness), vanilla, and a balanced, though mellow, highland character. It develops a creamy feel and I detect a hint of paper. As it progresses, a harshness appears. Some pleasant bourbon barrel spices accompany the harshness, balancing the vanilla, but the harshness is undeniable. It lacks the grain and oiliness of Dewar's 15 The Monarch, and has less alcohol, though still present. Finish: Creamy, with subtle sultana traces and lingering spice burn. This finish isn't very complex or flavorful, but it's adequate. - Conclusion - This appears better than Dewar's 15 The Monarch (13/23), establishing it as a better go-to option between the two. However, the harshness is a significant drawback. Its absence would greatly improve the experience. Compass Box Great King Street Glasgow (14/23) has more blended flavors, resulting in a less defined profile, but the harshness here is a major impediment. Interestingly, I now find the Glasgow blend considerably better, and the Dewar's about the same. I'm leaning towards a 13 for this one.