Deanston Batch 3 (TBWC)

This Deanston was bottled by the bottler That Boutique-y Whisky Company, an 18 year old, bottled at 51.7%, one of 96 bottles. Deanston is a honeyed, waxy Highland malt distilled beside the River Teith since 1966. The site was the Adelphi cotton mill, built in 1785 by Sir Richard Arkwright and turned to whisky in 1965.

Distilled from unpeated Scottish barley in bulbous copper stills, for the waxy, honeyed make Deanston is known for. An ex-Bourbon barrel shaped it, vanillin lending vanilla under the green fruit. At oxidative maturity aldehydes lend a nutty edge while ellagitannins add a gentle, drying grip to the honey. Unchillfiltered and at natural colour, it keeps the full waxy body in the glass. Years in oak round the spirit, the green apple and honey deepening over the wax. Vanillin and oak lactones from the wood lend vanilla and coconut over the fruit.

At cask strength 51.7% it is full bodied. Apple, pear and a soft honey, with a soft vanilla from the oak. The mouthfeel is buttery and waxy, the fruit on a honeyed body. Apple, honey and a soft oak spice see out a long finish. This is a fruity, unchillfiltered Highland single malt.