Whisky: Deanston 9 Year SMWS 79.6 “Rough and jumble”

Country/Region: Scotland/Highland

ABV: 60.8%

Cask: First Fill Bourbon Barrel

Age: 9 Year (Distilled 2 April 2012)

Nose: Bright, citrusy, and fruity.  Lemon peel and citrus juice opened the sinuses as buttery floral sugars wafted out of the glass.  A mellow creaminess carried hints of pepper and the caramelized bottom of a pineapple upside down cake.  Thoughts of butterscotch ice cream and nectarine crumble cake.

Palate: Medium-bodied with bright citrus and spice. A prickly spirit tickled the palate as a mellow floral sweetness faded to creamy spice. Fresh ginger and peppercorns led to pine with lemon coasting in at the end. At the back end was a tropical citrus feast with oranges, tangerines, and hints of coconut lingering through to the finish.

Finish:  Lingering dry citrus, cream, and tingling pepper.

Score: 6

Mental Image: Eating Sherbet, Dreaming of Pie

Notes: We poured this Deanston as the warm-up appetizer at a recent local whisky group tasting. It was our first time pouring a Deanston, and for many, including myself, it was our first chance to try a Deanston matured in an ex-bourbon cask. I was not swept off my feet by it— it was a great dram to warm up the palate and get started for the evening— but several local whisky group members made a point of grabbing the bottle when the US chapter of SMWS released it in May 2022. While I was not ready to search out a bottle for myself, I would happily drink this if offered.

The most impressive aspect of the dram was the creamy thickness of the spirit; the aroma hinted at an underlying richness but was generally citrusy and bright. A bit of youthful spirit— or prickliness as some might put it— did not distract from well-developed layers of spice and fruit on the palate. The structure and clarity of flavor on this young malt made a real impression and left me ready to try more youthful Deanston.