Deanston 10 Years Old 2008 (Single Cask)

The Campbeltown house Cadenhead bottled this Deanston, a 10 year old, distilled in 2008, bottled at 56.7%, one of 300 bottles. Deanston is a Highland single malt distilled in a converted cotton mill on the River Teith near Doune. It runs an open top mash tun, two wash and two spirit stills of a bulbous shape.

It was distilled slowly for a clean, fruity spirit, giving the soft, malty Highland spirit. An ex-Bourbon barrel shaped it, vanillin lending vanilla under the green fruit. Integration folds eugenol (clove) and vanillin (vanilla) into the malt, the body softer and waxier. Active wood frames the fruit without overwhelming the soft Highland spirit. The clean, fruity spirit shows the cask clearly, vanilla and honey to the fore. Its flagship is the 12 year old, bottled unchillfiltered at 46.3%. The cool, even temperature of the old weaving shed gives a slow, steady maturation.

At a natural 56.7% it is full and waxy. Green apple, honey and a waxy malt, with a soft vanilla from the oak. A dried fruit and a soft oak give it depth. A long, honeyed finish carries a green apple and a ginger spice. This is the cotton mill malt of the River Teith.