Great King Street Artists Blend

About

Great King Street Artists Blend takes its name from the street in Edinburgh's New Town where Compass Box is headquartered. Founded in 2000 by John Glaser, the company set out to challenge the assumption that blended Scotch whisky was somehow inferior to single malts. This Artists Blend, created in 2011, draws inspiration from century-old recipes and brings together three distilleries: 75.5% Caol Ila, 13.5% Clynelish, and 10.5% Talisker. The recipe — 46% single grain, 37% single malt, and 17% grain whisky — creates an accessible, balanced character without the rough edges that plague cheap blends. This is deliberate craft, not a shortcut to profit. On the nose, fresh stone fruit and citrus lead. The palate offers soft, summery fruit, caramel sweetness, and a subtle salinity that hints at the Talisker component. The finish is clean and peppery, with vanilla that lingers. A whisky that doesn't aim to impress through complexity, but through honesty and drinkability.

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