Deanston Fino Cask Finish 12 Years Old 2006

An official release of Deanston, a 12 year old, from 2006, at 55%, 1608 bottles in all. Deanston is a soft, malty Highland single malt from the old Adelphi cotton mill at Doune. 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. Finished in a Fino cask, the wood building over the green, waxy fruit. By the integrating teens congeners fade and esters build, the waxy, honeyed spirit growing rounder. The light, fruity make takes cask flavour well while keeping its honey and wax. The cool, even temperature of the old weaving shed gives a slow, steady maturation. The long ferment and clear wort give a fruity spirit that ages with grace. It uses 100% Scottish barley and bottles its malt unchillfiltered, with no added colour.

At cask strength 55% it is full bodied. A bright, honeyed orchard fruit, with a dry, bready, almond note from the cask. Soft orchard fruit and honey sit behind the cask. Apple, honey and a soft oak spice see out a long finish. This is the soft, waxy malt of Doune.