Speyburn Companion Cask

I purchased this a while back, around the time local stores were running out of Speyburn 10 and not restocking it. It's been a while since I've had Speyburn 10, but at $30 a bottle, you get an age statement scotch that doesn't break the bank, and while my memory of it is that it's not terribly complex, it was also quite drinkable. Again, these are memories, but it's one of those scotches where you get honey, pear and vanilla, and given the price, that's all you really need. It's a great comedown scotch. Aside from being low proof, it's inexpensive, so after you've had your best drinks of the evening and your palate is maybe a bit worn but you still want another dram Speyburn is what you break out. The Companion Cask carries no age statement but was $5 more than the 10 year, which I'm assuming is because this is a single barrel pick (at least, it had a little sticker on the side and a barrel number stating that it was a FW&GS exclusive). The nose is crisp, clear, like a ripe pear with a bit of bite still in it. And if memory serves, it's not terribly different than the Speyburn 10. Where the difference comes in is the palate. Oh, it's not terribly different (if memory serves), it's still got pear and honey and vanilla, but where it differs (to my mind's eye) is there's an astringency here I don't recall being present in the 10 year. Perhaps the age statement weans it out, perhaps this is over-oaked. Whatever the case, my first two pours a few weeks ago were so brutal that I put the bottle back in the cabinet for another three weeks with about a quarter bottle's worth of air in there, and the astringency tonight isn't quite as bad as it was then, but is still present. It's perhaps mellowing out and here now it taste of oak astringency, so perhaps there was something off in the barrel it was matured in since others here seem to have enjoyed this more than me. In any case, not terrible at $40 but definitely not a rebuy. I can only hope the local stores restock the Speyburn 10 at some point, as I'd like to taste that again. It's been maybe 4 years since I've had it and I believe my palate has changed in that time, so it'd been an interesting experience. Of course, it could also be like when you saw a movie or read a book as a child and you remember it as enchanting and then you re-experience it as an adult and hate yourself for letting the re-experience ruin the memories for you. Oh, well. We'll see.

Virginia ABC Single Barrel Store Pick. 46% ABV. Non-Chill Filtered. No added color. Finished in 1st fill Buffalo Trace Bourbon Casks. Color- Light Straw N - Stone fruit, apple, light alcohol, vanilla, faint smoke but no peat. P - Very leggy in the glass. Oily creamy mouth feel. Very buttery on the lips. Flavors of light fruit and apple jelly. F- Long spicy finish of baking spices especially allspice notes. Bright fresh cracked black and white peppercorns. Great lingering after taste. This specific bottle will be more difficult to find away from Virginia, but Speyburn is supposed to release these picks across the country through various ABC systems and stores. It is very light and flavorful for those who prefer less smoky and unpeated Scotch. The bourbon notes really shine in this NAS offering. I first had a pour of this for breakfast on a coastal fishing trip over a year ago. This is so fruity and approachable it is hard to pass up at the $40 price. I have never had the standard 10 yr so I don't know how it compares...but this is a winner.

I’ve been waiting for a few months for my local liquor store to get this in as one of their store picks. It came in a week or so ago, and I’ve been pleasantly surprised. The nose offers some light fruity/flowery notes. The palate is very smooth with summer fruits, some honey/toffee, and cream, that coats the tongue and provides a nice mouth feel and tongue tingle. For a non-age-statement scotch the finish is better than you might expect. It lingers for a while then fades away with notes of honey, sherbet lemon, spices, and malted cookies. It can take a little water, but I really like the tongue tingle, so have been drinking neat. At $36 this punches well above its weight, and I will definitely buy another bottle. Great summer scotch.

Pleasantly malty. I get a lot of malty shortbread flavor, some slight bourbon notes from the cask, and a hint of coconut. Perhaps a tiny bit of caramel. It's got a medium long finish full of cereal grain with the coconut hint. It's not a particularly complex whiskey, but the grain flavors are crisp, fresh, and very nicely balanced.

Single malt pick from Heritage in Denver. Agree with other reviewers, like an unpeated single malt. Very light in color and sweet on the nose. Pear and white grape forward that finishes with a rye pepper punch... no dill or brine flavors though. Delicious and easy drinking but not the most complex thing in the cabinet.

Bought this on Closeout (half price) becsuse I really like Speyburn 10. I am glad I didn’t pay full price. This has the smoothness of the 10 year, but with a bit more alcohol heat (46% vs. 40%). A pleasant enough dram, but not a replacement for the 10 year.