Deanston 12 Year Sherry Oak
Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
40% ABV
$44
Website
We would like to thank Paul (who shares reviews on Distiller.com, as well as reviews and general musings on his YouTube channel Dapper Drams) for the sample to review!
What the Distillery Says
SHERRY OAK
Finished in Sherry Casks
Our tight-knit community is embodied in the traditional methods used to produce this unique single malt whisky.
Crafted by hand, this Deanston malt has been finished in sherry casks to ensure a rich amber colour and deep flavour. This creates a warm, fruity dram which tastes best when shared.
COLOUR: Amber gold
NOSE: The characteristic honey of Deanston, subtle dried fruit with hints of toffee, oak and delicate spice.
PALATE: Sweet honey and fruit, hints dried fruit and toffee with delicate rich oak and sweet maltiness.
FINISH: Sweet and lingering with hints of fruit and delicate spice.
What Gary Says
Nose: Heavy fruit, raisins, plums, figs, tart berries, fresh prairie grass, brown sugar, honey, oak and a hint of balsamic.
Palate: Sweet honey malt, fruitcake, raisins, nutmeg, oak with a dash of pepper.
Finish: Moderate in length, slightly drying with dried dark fruit.
Comments: This is a Taiwanese market exclusive that a fellow whisk(e)y enthusiast won at auction, so it isn’t mentioned on their web-site. The details above were from images of the box I could find on-line (so if they had multiple varieties of this, may not line up exactly – sorry). I’m unfamiliar with Deanston, so when arranging to trade samples, I picked this to try.
It’s quite a pleasant dram, not particularly complex but fairly ‘flavor intense’ for 40% ABV. I wouldn’t go out of my way to track one down necessarily, but nothing objectionable with this (although at 40% ABV, I did find it didn’t take water well; thinned out rather quickly – which isn’t a surprise for the low proof).