Introduction
It's no secret that I love Deanston! I've tried a few of their whiskies now, and have yet to find a 'bad' one. One of my 'premium' bottles in my collection is a 23 Year Old Olorosso Sherry cask matured Deanston, and it is fantastic!
Funnily enough, as is often the case with some whisky brands, I've tried a few rare or specific distillery bottlings, but haven't actually tried their 12 Year Old expression before, so I was excited to get stuck into this when I received it!
On the Nose
A lovely rich honey, lightly spiced orange, and very light cinnamon. I got an almost ginger biscuit spice after a while, with some maple syrup sweetness and a hint of vanilla.
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On the palate
A lovely first sip, filled with thick vanilla cream. Some dark chocolate and nuts provides the mouth feel towards the end, only countered by the sweetness of a caramel apple. The cinnamon hint is still there, and an ever so slight wink towards marzipan.
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Conclusion
You know what, this is a solid 12 year old malt! Having tried Deanston of varying ages, including a 23 year old, this stood its ground for me. Not quite to the same complexity and excitement as other Deanston expressions, but one worthy of any collection and a genuinely nice sipper for those occasions where you don't want to fuss about your dram.
Want to try it for yourself?
Why not try Deanston 12 for yourself? You can pick up a bottle online at any of the following retailers:
This dram was tried via a Flaviar Christmas Advent Calendar. Interested in joining flaviar, a premium spirits club? You'll get premium tasting packs, full bottles of whisky, as well as early access to future Whisky Advent Calendars! You can find out more HERE.