Compass Box Great King St New York Blend

This is my first attempt at adding a bottling to this platform. I felt I should be prepared to offer my assessment once it was listed. I typically prefer to try a spirit multiple times before reviewing it when I own a full bottle, but I was eager to add this one. So, here we go... Most individuals familiar with scotch have surely encountered Compass Box. They might also recognize their introductory blends, originally named after their London street address: Great King St. The Artist’s Blend and the Glasgow Blend remain affordable and well-liked today. This particular bottling was a limited release created by John Glaser to honor New York City. The concept was inspired by an anecdote from the late 1800s where a New York bartender requested branded malt whisky bottles for mixing drinks, as opposed to the standard bulk-shipped casks of the era. This allowed him to obtain some smoked malts alongside the sweeter malts common at the time. This bottling serves as Compass Box's homage to that pioneering bartender. The details: Twenty percent of this blend consists of Lowland grain, with the remaining eighty percent being a mix of Highland, Speyside, and Islay single malts. Roughly a quarter of the total blend is composed of heavily peated Islay malt. The majority of the malts are sourced from first-fill American oak casks, with some refill bourbon and sherry casks incorporated for added complexity. This bottling was launched in the summer of 2012, with a limited availability of just 1,840 bottles. A rare find! It's bottled at 46% ABV and, like all Compass Box whiskies, is presented with natural color and without chill filtration. The aroma is pleasantly perfumed and sweet, with abundant notes of dried orchard fruits. The Islay smoke is subtle and never overpowers the other elements. The characteristic waxy note often found in Compass Box releases is faintly present in the background. A very pleasing aroma. The palate is exceptionally smooth. There's a delightful complexity featuring sweet apples, pears, and other ripe fruits. The smoke adds a delicate layer of depth that elevates this bottling closer to some of Compass Box's more expensive recent releases. It possesses an excellent, oily mouthfeel that allows the flavors to linger well into the finish. Regarding the finish, it's not excessively long. The notably substantial mouthfeel helps sustain the sweetness while the smoke becomes more prominent as you exhale. It's outstanding. Overall, my initial impression is that this is akin to what Compass Box's Lost Blend or This Is Not A Luxury Whisky might taste like if a touch of Peat Monster were incorporated. I'm inclined to give this 4.5 stars. I'm uncertain if the $70 price point reflects retailers recognizing its scarcity and capitalizing on demand, or if it was consistently priced that high. If this bottling had been comparable to the Artist's and Glasgow blends and initially offered at $40, it would truly be a masterpiece deserving of 5 stars for its value. Regardless, this is a superb blended whisky that showcases the brilliance of John Glaser and his team in the art of blending. If you have the opportunity to find a bottle or even a pour at a bar, I strongly recommend trying it. It's a truly remarkable dram. Cheers, everyone.

A friend and I had a tasting session last night where we sampled a few drams together. Why did Glaser cease production of this? It surpasses the other two Great King St blends. With only about 1200 bottles produced, I'm grateful to my friend for sharing! This ranked among my top 5 for the evening (Macallan from the 80s, Ardbeg Drum CE, CB Stranger & Stranger, and Smogen Triple were rated higher). It has a smoky, briny, and citrusy character – Laphroaig is at its heart. This was exceptional. Thanks to my friend!

The aroma and palate feature layers of smoke and cream, followed by a long, spicy finish. The recipe indicates that Laphroaig is the primary peat source, and it's unmistakable. Other malts include sherry-aged Speysiders and the frequently used Teaninich.