An excellent “benchmark” bottling from blending extraordinaires, Compass Box.

Great King St. is the address at which Compass Box’s Edinburgh offices can be found. The Artist’s Blend is a tribute to the blenders of the late 19th century, who can be credited with elevating blended Scotch to the dominant position it enjoys to this day. These blenders were artists of a kind, subtly weaving different styles of spirit together to create complex and delicious bottlings.

To create this whisky, Compass Box referred to archive recipes from this golden age, whilst also apply their own 21st century twists. The bottling consists of: 46.2% grain whisky from Cameronbridge, which has been aged in a first fill American oak barrel; 29.7% malt whisky from Clynelish, matured in a first fill Bourbon Hogshead; 16.1% is a blend of Clynelish, Teaninich and Dailuaine malt whiskies given an extra maturation in a custom toasted new French oak cask; and finally 8% malt whisky from Linkwood distillery.

The result is an approachable, yet still exceedingly complex blended Scotch. Artist’s Blend serves up a rich mouthfeel, complete with notes of stewed fruits, beeswax, grain sweetness, spicy oak, apples, slight funk, cornbread, milk chocolate and malt.

The dram is bottled at 43% ABV and without chill filtration or colouration – meaning it might cloud slightly at low temperatures.

• Product type
  Blended
• Distillery / brand
  Compass Box Blended Whisky
• Country
  Scotland
• Non-chillfiltered
  Yes
• Natural colour
  Yes
• SKU
  039608