Spey River Bourbon Cask Finish

Nose: Musky, floral maltiness, sandalwood sawdust. An earthy, grassy, hay-like note is present. Palate: Sweet and fruity on arrival, a very light touch of malty spice develops, with some mild white pepper towards the finish. The texture is good. Finish: Medium/short. Fruity, fading into spicy/sweet notes. This is a young malt, likely around 4-5 years old at most. It tastes like new-make spirit that has had only the briefest contact with a cask, lacking the character that comes with aging. However, the new-make was of good quality and it's an easy-drinking dram. It has a sweetness, but it's crisp, grassy, and more akin to barley sugar than syrup. You won't find the distillery on any map or tourist route as it doesn't exist. It's a brand name owned by a company and is one of several such brands they produce. Brands like this serve only two purposes: either to offload surplus stock and experimental barrels, or to market very young spirit without association with a major brand name. I can state with certainty that the parent company is a subsidiary of a large spirits producer and they only distribute spirits made by that producer's distilleries, so the consistency and quality are likely quite good. This is most probably very young teaspooned spirit from a well-known distillery, but whatever it is, the quality is there and it's good value for the price. Tasted from a 30ml sample (thanks to a friend). "Above Average": 82/100 (3.25 stars)

Immediate vanilla and caramel notes, along with hay and oak. The bourbon finish is noticeable in the oak and char levels. A decent dram. Nothing extraordinary.

The aroma is delightful, with sweet and spicy notes, but overall it's quite ordinary and lacks complexity. It's not bad considering the price.

A decent scotch. I still don't quite get the point of all these cask finishes; they all taste the same to me.

Spicy, similar to rye. It's a respectable Speyside for the cost. Uncomplicated, smooth, and enjoyable.

Smooth with a slight finish bite. Would complement tuna or chicken dishes well, especially with a rub.