Deanston 10 Years Old 2012 Cask #C22046 (Claxton’s)

The bottler Claxton's bottled this Deanston, a 10 year old, distilled in 2012, from cask C22046, bottled at 58.4%, one of 78 bottles. Deanston is a Highland single malt known for its waxy texture and unchillfiltered bottlings. The distillery sits on the River Teith near Doune, between Stirling and the Highlands.

The spirit was run through the bulbous stills with their upward sloping lyne arms, building the honeyed Deanston style. It was matured in an Oloroso cask, the wood working slowly into the waxy malt. Through integration spirit and wood marry, vanillin settling into a rounded vanilla as ethyl esters lend a riper apple and pear. Years in oak round the spirit, the green apple and honey deepening over the wax. Active wood frames the fruit without overwhelming the soft Highland spirit. The waxy texture is the Deanston signature, carried through the years in cask.

At 58.4%, undiluted, it is deep and honeyed. A bright, honeyed orchard fruit, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. It is fruity and waxy, the malty spirit shining through. The finish is rounded, honeyed and gently spiced. This is a fruity, unchillfiltered Highland single malt.