Deanston 15 Years Old (46.3%)

This official Deanston, a 15 year old, at 46.3%. Deanston is a Highland malt made in a vaulted stone mill, waxy and malty in style. Its old weaving shed, once full of looms, is now a cool stone warehouse for the casks.

The spirit was distilled from unpeated Scottish barley in bulbous copper stills, the long ferment building a fruity, estery character. First fill bourbon gave a fuller vanilla and a touch of coconut from the lactones. At oxidative maturity vanillin and lactones are fully expressed, the malt deepening over its waxy weight. The clean, fruity spirit shows the cask clearly, vanilla and honey to the fore. The waxy texture is the Deanston signature, carried through the years in cask. The long ferment and clear wort give a fruity spirit that ages with grace. Active wood frames the fruit without overwhelming the soft Highland spirit. It uses 100% Scottish barley and bottles its malt unchillfiltered, with no added colour.

At 46.3% it is fruity, honeyed and waxy. Honey, malt and a gentle clove, with a soft vanilla from the oak. A baked apple and a gentle clove lift it. Apple, honey and a soft oak spice see out a long finish. This is a waxy, honeyed Highland single malt.