Fable Batch Five The Three Companions Blended Malt Whisky Review

Independent bottler Pendulum Spirits Limited unfolds an unheard Scottish myth in the Fable whisky series. The story of eleven chapters has received an epilogue in the form of six blends. In this Fable The Ghost of Clanyard Bay Chapter 5 Review, we tell you about The Three Companions and what the spirit stirs in your mouth.

Pendulum Spirits Limited's whiskies tell a Scottish tale in the main series of eleven single malts. Apart from these eleven chapters, there was some room (read: whisky) left to conceive an epilogue. This now takes the form of six blended whiskies, each highlighting a different aspect of the story.

Pendulum Spirits Limited has taken things a step further with the Fable whisky series. The original story was not conceived by the bottler, but for the six extra bottles, a part of the story was indeed invented. The stories of these whiskies are loosely based on The Ghost Piper of Clanyard Bay myth and illustrate the side from the character's perspectives.

In Fable Batch Five - The Three Companions, Lena, a healer from the story, gives her take on the haunting Piper of Clanyard Bay. The whisky is a blend of spirits from various distilleries that matured for eight years in ex-bourbon barrels and hogsheads.

It renders a golden dram with a sweet start and a finish with hints of oak. According to Pendulum Spirits Limited, this is the perfect blend to drink neat or to use in a whisky sour.

The bottle of Fable whisky comes in a white box with the words 'The Ghost Piper of Clanyard Bay'. Aside from the brand name on the top, there’s nothing else to see.

As with the earlier releases, the whisky label speaks volumes. The spotlight is on a beautiful black and white sketch by illustrator Hugo L. Cuellar, showcasing three characters from the story.

While the alcohol volume, batch number, and bottling date are neatly listed, something crucial is missing—the distilleries and the barrels. At the back of the bottle, we are simply referred to the website where the complete story is explained.

The story of the Ghost Piper of Clanyard Bay thus takes precedence over providing transparency about the blend's content.

All expressions of Fable are light gold in color. This is also true for the fifth batch of the mythical blend by the bottler. At the rim of the glass, the spirit leaves a beautiful trail, indicating a creamy body.

The expression brings out a light peppery tingling on the nose, followed by clear malt tones. This is eventually succeeded by sweeter notes of fudge, biscuit, and aromas reminiscent of a newly opened bag of muesli. Not long after, there's some space for fresh citrus and vanilla pod notes.

In the mouth, the creamy character of the whisky is immediately apparent. The drink feels somewhat oily, while tones of fresh orange juice, a hint of wood, and some floral notes emerge. In between, there are sweeters notes of fruit and toffee, but these mainly stay in the background.

This is not a very complex flavor profile that opens spicy, as is usual for a young whisky. Expect a range of flavors that are well balanced.

What strikes is the fairly short finish. Is that a problem? Not necessarily, because the spirit is perfect for a mix or a cocktail. Tip: a whisky sour.

The blended whisky from Fable is a fine whisky for a regular day. The flavors are beautifully balanced and match the aroma. The spirit comes across as quite young on both fronts, something that maybe could have been interfered with a slightly higher alcohol volume.

Lovers of floral whiskies or people who simply don't want to nurse a glass all evening have hit the mark with this bottle. The floral and predominantly sweet character provide a great base for a cocktail.

+ Magnificent label

+ Whisky has a balanced profile

+ Suitable for creating cocktails

- Initially comes across as a very young whisky

- No transparency about what's in the blend