Deanston Kentucky Cask Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 70cl

Product Information

The 3rd annual Scottish Whisky Awards revealed the winners from its comprehensive competition that included the blind tasting of 200 Scotch whiskies and the assessment of 58 distilleries and whisky producers. Finish: Not too short, which is a welcome surprise. Nutty and slightly astringent, but not in a bad way.

Deanston Malt Scotch Whisky Kentucky Cask

Strathdearn is a hall in Tomatin. As for the strength, that's no typo, I suppose this one was stored just under a roof (in Death Valley Junction, California). As you know, strengths go up in a hot and dry environment. Colour: salmony amber, I would say. Nose: acetone, butterscotch and café latte – but of course. With water: a jeroboam of old balsamico vinegar, perhaps touches of truffle oil, old hessian, and probably even more acetone too. Very unusual nose. Gets rounder and gentler but needs time (cake and ripe apples). Mouth (neat): not sure I should, but it seems that Covid succumbs to these strengths, so… More café latte, varnish, probably eggplants, blueberry jelly, perhaps… With water: still very bizarre, and on the same notes, more or less. Some kind of liquid Scottish moussaka. Touches of metal polish (there!) and more eggplant yet. Finish: rather long, on similar notes. Some metallic sourness in the aftertaste, some lime juice too, and a sulphuriness. Comments: a lot of fun to be had with this one, but it really is a little, say lunatic. A mad scientist's whisky. Whiskybase B.V. (“Whiskybase”, “we” or “us”, company details below) offers a whisky enthusiasts online platform that provides its members access to the most comprehensive, transparent and trusted resource of whisky bottles and allows and stimulates its members to contribute information about whisky bottles to the platform (“Service”). I always loved to taste Deanston, and actually all distilleries. They're no big names, but they're growing and some are about to overtake some much bigger names, as far as quality goes. I would day Deanston is a perfect example. If we decide not to exercise or enforce any right or provision of these Terms, such decision shall not constitute a waiver of such right or provision.

It seems that the very honourable bottlers did this cask at various strengths. Indeed this one's lighter than the 52.1% seen elsewhere (same cask number). By the way, I suppose BA, in this context, means Beerenauslese rather than British Airways. Better like that. Colour: gold. Nose: a funny two-step nose. First a gentle, classic rum that just won't tear you apart in any way (some would even say it's slightly bland) but then a lovely, delicate and pretty fragrant development on flowers and oriental cakes. Baklavas, orange blossom water, wisteria, even rose petals and Turkish delights, wondering if that BA was gewurztraminer. Or grauburgunder? Mouth: I believe the wine was clearly an asset (who said for once?) Very nice notes of apple cake, possibly more cane juice than in the original rum, with these earthy touches, and some soft liquorice and perhaps a drop of litchi juice. Finish: not long, but aromatic and balanced. Notes of Liquorice allsorts. Comments: smart and good! I'm really happy about several 'new' distilleries, that's all good for my interest in whisky (not that you should care). Daftmill, Chichibu, Bimber, Shizuoka, and Ardnamurchan's not too bad either… And several others. That's pretty stimulating, while many old glories are now almost extinct (Coleburn, Lochside…), should I want to push WF to 20,000 personal whisky notes. We'll see… It's been a 2 year finish, so almost double-maturation, although I'm afraid no one's ever come up with a proper definition of what's a finishing vs double maturation. Colour: gold. Nose: oh, after the fresh fruits we're rather having the pastries and other fine specialties made thereof, first and foremost cassata and that thing we call 'brie au kirsch', which is not cheese at all mind you. Whiffs of warm focaccia, a touch of concrete and metal polish, walnut wine, blond pipe tobacco (I remember Amsterdamer), cherry stem tea… I find this nose awesomely complex, so far, this baby clearly stands up to the fruit bomb. With water: what a glorious sherry barrel! Looks like they've used good quality oloroso here, from a good tonneleria. Unless it came straight from a Scottish cooperage. Anyway, the nose didn't change much, it just became even more complex and with rather more citrus, and mosses… Mouth (neat): notes of eucalyptus and perhaps myrtle, a very curious earthiness, surely many walnuts, a little mustard, grapefruits, some kind of spicy cough medicine, crunching pine needles… It's very singular and most lovable. I would have believed this was ex-Madeira wood. With water: works but you have to be careful and not make it a tad too leafy and leathery. Finish: long. Herbal teas, zests, nutmeg, cinnamon… And myrtle. We've come full circle. Comments: we're extremely close to perfection. If you like dry Madeira wine… No, not sure about that title either. But we've had Bunnahabhain and Caol Ila these past couple of weeks, so why not stay on Islay and do Port Ellen while we're 'spiritually' on location. However, first of all, a bonus aperitif, if you please.

Deanston Virgin Oak Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 70 cl Deanston Virgin Oak Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 70 cl

Each and every Member must be of legal drinking age in its country of residence to be allowed to use the Service. If no such law exists in a Member’s country of residence, the Member has to be over 21 years old to use the Service. We have the right to ask you to provide proof of your age and/or to provide further identification to prevent underage usage and/or for any other legal or legitimate purpose. By using the Service, and by creating an account you represent, warrant and confirm that you are of legal age. For a long time, we've been joking about those 'secret malt whiskies from the Isle of Skye', stressing the fact that there was only one distillery on the Island anyway. BBR's 'Isle of Skye', DL's 'Tacticals', TWA's 'Talimburgs', Adelphi's 'Fascadales' and quite a few others. That era just came to an end, after some false start elsewhere, thanks to Mossburn's new Torabhaig Distillery, on the south shore. Let me leave the last word to Talisker (and make sure it wins this session, to give honour where honour is due).Balblair 18 yo 2002/2020 (51.7%, Single Malts of Scotland, Elixir Distillers, for The Nectar, hogshead, cask #20100, 200 bottles) Mouth (neat): yes, very Tomatin, very sharp in a good way, acidic, blade-y. Actually, it's more on unripe green fruits and lemons, which indeed, reminds me of those chilled verdejo (or verdelho) you could drink with langoustines in coastal Spain or Portugal. With water: rounder, fruitier, and this time we're even closer to 'Tomatin' (fruit salad here) with just a touch of rose jelly or gewurztraminer. Probably from the verdejo this time. Finish: rather long, fresh and refreshing – but not a 61.2%. Comments: a very interesting set-up where the wine cask may have added 'more of the whisky' instead of complementing it, if you see what I mean. Next, a Clynelish wax finish? Really cool and good. I'll say it again, I've always been a fan of this little 'budget' range. Some 18 yo Port Ellen for 25€, anyone? Granted, that was a long time ago… Colour: very pale white wine. Nose: paraffin and pear juice, I would say, plus lemon. Very elementary but I believe it captures the real style of the distillery. Mouth: very good, with a little toasted oak, otherwise apple crumble and again this dry paraffiny side. Finish: medium yet fat, sooty, slightly dusty and dirty but once again, that's part of the game here. Williams pear spirit. Salt and smoked salmon in the aftertaste – really. Comments: very very good and a clear BFYB whisky. The saltiness came unexpected. Great little whisky, great series. Congratulations to all the winners in this year’s Scottish Whisky Awards. We have very much enjoyed reviewing the work of the Scotch whisky industry which has shown real innovation, resilience, and dedicated support for local communities. All of the efforts in judging, tasting, researching, reading, and debating are worth it as we all work together to increase the promotion of Scotch whisky as the number one whisky of choice in the world.” BRONZE MEDAL AWARD: The Vatting Series - 11yo The Speysiders (Ximenez-Spinola PX Finish); Murray McDavid