Deanston 17 Years Old 2008 (The Whisky Agency)

A Deanston of a 17 year old chosen by the German bottler The Whisky Agency, distilled in 2008, bottled at 50.3%, one of 164 bottles. Deanston is a waxy, honeyed Highland malt made in a former mill on the banks of the Teith. Its old weaving shed, once full of looms, is now a cool stone warehouse for the casks.

It was distilled from unpeated Scottish barley in bulbous copper stills, for a soft, waxy make of green apple and honey. It was matured in a Port cask, the wood working slowly into the waxy malt. Into oxidative maturity, slow air ingress builds fruity ethyl esters (apple and pear) and a honeyed depth over the wax. Long ageing turns the fresh fruit towards honey, dried fruit and a soft spice. The light, fruity make takes cask flavour well while keeping its honey and wax. Its wash is fermented long, for a fruity, estery character.

Bottled at a cask strength 50.3%, it is rich. Honey, malt and a gentle clove, with red berry, plum and a dry spice from the cask. A baked apple and a gentle clove lift it. A long, honeyed finish carries a green apple and a ginger spice. This is a waxy, honeyed Highland single malt.