Great King Street by Compass Box is, in short, one of my favorite blends. It might not be as good as some others like The General or to yet to be reviewed ‘This is not a Luxury Whisky’, but it’s flavorsome, has a high malt content and is readily available at a price point that makes a lot of sense to me.

I tried it at a tasting little over four years ago at a tasting with Jock Shaw, to celebrate a club’s tenth anniversary. I was a member of that club but it turned out that I never had time to visit their tastings or do anything else with it, so I suspended that membership.

Back then it made it onto my list of favorites of the year and I still have it occasionally when it’s around and I want something not overly complex, but still quite delicious. Anyway, this day I decided not to drink it from the advent calendar, but just repost my notes from 2011.

This, because my liver is taking a serious beating this month and I have to be careful which poison I allow to do just that. I decided to not taste the samples from the calendar that I’ve already reviewed in the past. That still leaves some whiskies I did have before but have never reviewed yet (the first one coming up in about a week).

The notes to this highly recommended blend by Compass Box:

Great King Street – Compass Box, 43%
Apparently there is 50% Clynelish in this blend, but I don’t remember if that is in the final blend, or 50% of the malt component is Clynelish… Its a cracking dram anyway. First Fill Bourbon and some new oak casks. Sweet on the nose with peardrops, a light wood influence with something waxy (the Clynelish influence). On the palate it had a bit more oomph than I expected with a slight pepperiness, thick and sugary. Vanilla, caramel and something more crisp on the finish. The finish is quite short though.

Available at Master of Malt for 35 quid, for 70 cl, or 25 quid for 50cl

Again, highly recommended. But, let’s be honest, everything I’ve tried from Compass Box over the last couple of years is highly recommended. One of the few producers I trust without trying first.

Thanks to Master of Malt and Drinks by the Dram for sending the calendar, and thus this sample.