Released as a tribute to Edinburgh, Artist Blend is a blended Scotch whisky from the independent whiskymakers Compass Box. Compass Box are especially keen to make transparent the whiskies they use in each of their whiskies and readily publish this information. The blend uses 55% single malts from three distilleries – Clynelish in the Highlands, plus Linkwood and Balmenach from Speyside and a small pocket of Highland blended malt.
They have been aged in first fill ex-Bourbon barrels (one pocket of Linkwood, the Clynelish and Balmenach), re-vatted Palo Cortado sherry seasoned butts (another pocket of Linkwood), and French oak barrels (the blended malt). This unusually high percentage of malts for a blend is paired with a single grain from Cameronbridge matured in first fill ex-Bourbon barrels.
When released in 2011 this whisky was known as Great King Street ‘Artist’s Blend’ and was inspired by 100-year-old recipes for blended Scotch whisky, which explains the higher proportion of single malt whiskies. Rebranding changed the name and has added a wider variety of casks to the blend adding further complexity.
Compass Box was founded in 2000 by John Glaser and has a blending room based in London with warehouses maturing whisky stock in Scotland. Their ethos is to buy whisky from a small number of distilleries and then craft these together into their own unique products, providing transparency of what is included in each whisky blend along the way. The range includes single grain whiskies, vatted malts, blended whiskies and other limited releases. All are produced and released in small batches, often using only two or three whiskies to create a unique product with a catchy name.
Compass Box Artist Blend is bottled at 43% ABV and is available through specialist whisky retailers in selected world markets. A bottle should cost around £40.
Our Tasting Notes
The colour is lemon yellow and the nose is initially a little understated. Aromas of floral meadows and candyfloss lead the way and are supported by red apple, sweet cashew nuts and freshly cut grass. Then come further notes of malted cereals, sherbet lemon and fresh coconut.
On the palate this whisky has a lovely sweetness and lightness to it. Notes of butterscotch and fairground toffee apple are joined by rhubarb and custard boiled sweets and a hint of lemon sherbet. A distinct note of vanilla wraps around everything. Then comes some structure and robustness in the form of freshly baked oat cookies. A gentle hint of soft, sweet peat smoke is also detected, which adds further depth and complexity. Some late warming spice – think of clove and cinnamon especially – and a hint of liquorice root sit in the background.
The finish is sweet and spicy, and of decent length. The candyfloss returns and plays with the butterscotch and toffee for a while, before they all slowly fade. Then the warming spice and a distinct drying woody quality drive the finish on. This is reminiscent of gingerbread, cinnamon and freshly waxed oak furniture.
What’s The Verdict?
The Compass Box Artist Blend is, and has always been, a good and solid blend. It is like the little black dress of Scotch whisky – you can dress it up or dress it down. It is tasty as is, but also super versatile, and a great example of a boutique blended Scotch whisky. The sweet versus savoury with a hint of mild peat smoke makes this a real crowd pleaser. Given the small batch nature of this whisky, it seems to consistently deliver on quality and that should be applauded. And we like what Compass Box are doing with regards to transparency – it is refreshing and the way forward for such brands. Try it!
