Deanston 22 Year Old 1996 The Golden Cask Reserve

A few years ago House of Macduff, Scottish indie, bottled this 22 years old Deanston in their well-known series The Gold Cask, which is reserved for single cask releases at cask strength.

Well, that nose is something else. Not very fruity – and the fruit that I do get has started to rot, which is not an off-note – but mostly notes of pastry and sweet malt. Reminds me a bit of the mash of a blond beer. Soft peppers. Garden herbs. Quite intense. After a few minutes some more fruit does start to emerge in the guise of brown banana and overripe peach.

While quite intense on the palate as well, the alcohol is well integrated. I do not feel the urge to add water. It’s a lot more fruity on the palate than the nose announced. A truckload of pineapple and peach, followed by mango and dragon’s fruit. Yes, this is quickly turning tropical. I feel like I’m on Jamaica. Deanston? You mean Kingston, right? Feisty as well.

On the finish, the tropical fruit lingers, while the spices keep your mouth warm.

Not an easy whisky, to be honest. It was work. But rewarding indeed. Thanks, Gunther!

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