For no very particular reason, I’m doing a Deanston tasting with the samples I’ve got. Two were thrown in with with other stuff in online shop purchases, and the third one I actually picked up at the distillery last year. Without further ado…
Deanston | 11yo (2009) | 46% | Home of Malts
Small sample review
⚡Experience
There is primarily a sour note (lemon, white wine) that interacts with woodsy notes (oak, dunnage, dry spices) and light fruit (pear, apricot). I get some rice pudding with cinnamon too. The palate is quite sweet, has a nice hint of bitter, and is positively malty and mouthfilling with toasted oak, nuts, orange, and a trace of wheat flour.
💡Thoughts
It’s not the best Deanston, but quite decent. But I enjoy the regular 12yo more (and for less money). The nose goes just a little too much towards dishcloth. The powerful palate is good, but undercuts the freshness.
Rewarding
✔️
Deanston | 11yo (2012) | 55.7% | Best Dram
🌐
Scotch single malt
🪵
fist fill Guyana rum barrel finish
🔆
unchillfiltered & natural color
💲
€75
Small sample review
⚡Experience
This actually smells like both whisky and rum. There is fruit (pears, mangoes, citrus), brown sugar, vanilla and rum-raisin. With water and time, more floral and mineral. Palate is malty, “punsch-y”, full-bodied, very Deanston. Flavours well match the nose, the rum is subtle but noticeable.
💡Thoughts
Quite nice, well balanced. Although rum doesn’t excite me too much.
Rewarding
✔️
Deanston | 12yo (2008) | 58.1% | Official
Small sample review
⚡Experience
Too boozy neat – adding water. Buttery sherry aromas, ripe strawberries on the nose, and a just little coconut. Palate: sweet, savoury, salty, tad bitter. Sherry is carried very well by the maltiness; same robustness as the previous samples is shining here.
💡Thoughts
My palate is saturating, and this is a powerful dram. Nothing very subtle or unique here, but as far as heavy PX goes, this is the kind of spirit to apply it to.
Rewarding
✔️
Nothing subpar, or out of the extraodinary here. Quite fun to try one uncomplicated (ex-bourbon) and two special finishes. Especially rum I don’t try so often.
DuckDrams 
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