Deanston Virgin Oak
August 18, 2024
An interesting exploration happens this time when a Highland distiller transfers their matured single malt whisky from a bourbon cask to a virgin American oak cask for finishing and then I get to pour the finished result into my glass for tasting! It’s the Deanston Virgin Oak release, distilled at the Deanston Distillery in the town of Deanston, near Doune, in the Scottish Highland county of Perthshire.
I want to start by pointing out the label. Every whisky has a label and there are rules around what specific information must be printed on the label, including things like the type of whisky and the alcoholic content. The thing I love about the label on Deanston bottles like this one is that, in addition to the necessary stuff they’re required to show, Deanston has also included information about who made it: the names of people involved: the distillery manager, the shift Charge Hand, the two Mashmen, and the two Stillmen that were involved in making this whisky. It’s a nice combination of accountability by these workers, who are willing to put their name on this product, and a distillery that’s willing to proudly promote and highlight the hard work of its employees. Nice!
The distillery’s been around since 1965 and the Virgin Oak release, which is a part of Deanston’s core lineup of whiskies, has been produced since by them since 2010.
Here’s a bit of whisky trivia: By taking advantage of the River Teith, which the distillery is built right next to, Deanston was the first hydroelectric, self sufficient distillery in Scotland. And before it was a distillery, it used to be a cotton mill, which is why it was located next to the river in the first place.
And since we’re on the topic of whisky trivia, if you’ve ever seen the film “The Angels Share” from 2012, it was Deanston that provided the location of the interior distillery shots. Now you know.
This non-aged statement release has been matured in first-fill American ex-bourbon casks and then finished for 9-12 months in virgin American oak casks from Kentucky, meaning this is the first spirit that’s ever been in them. The ABV of this one sits at a healthy 46.3 percent.
This whisky is non-chill filtered and has no color added. They mention that lack of chill-filtering thing on the label. You’ll have find the other info online. Come on Deanston, this is a good thing, don’t be afraid to brag about it on the label.
There’s a light amber, pale honey coloring to this whisky and there are medium but thick-and-fun-to-watch legs moving down the glass.
Nose:
There’s the sweetness on the nose that might come from a freshly-opened container of brown sugar. I get apple sauce, or maybe the dough quality of apple pie. In the same family, there’s some cinnamon dust. I get a scent of something like standing in the middle of a wheat field, on a windy day. And, also, maybe next to a field of perfumey flowers.
Palate:
There are some cloves on my tongue. I get green apples. But there’s also what I would call a not as pleasing sugar burn. Also, there’s a chewy, harsh note that shows up after a few sips. But the pleasant note of some reduced cherries, too.
I wouldn’t normally add water to a whisky at 46.3 percent ABV but something felt right about doing it here.
Nose + Water:
I get an enhanced smell of fresh cherries. Then, more green apples. And finally, peanut butter.
Palate + Water:
I get bigger spice with the water. It’s almost harsh, though. It tastes like lemon marmalade (I had to do a search on lemon marmalade to see if it was a real thing. It is.) And green grass.
Finish:
The finish is a mild one. I’m left with slightly charred caramel candies, the taste of beer, some raisins, and raisiny-figs.
Rating:
This is a good whisky. It’s not great. It’s got some pleasant flavors, and then it’s got a couple of things that pop up that make me go hmmm. It doesn’t set off fireworks for me but it’s enjoyable enough to sip. I was leaning towards giving this one a 7 finger pour but they’ve put it out on the market at a very reasonable price and these days, that brings value to the table. All things considered, I’d say it’s worth buying a bottle and check it out for yourself. I’m giving the Deanston Virgin Oak release an eight finger pour.
Age Statement: NAS
ABV: 46.3 %
Chill-filtered: no
E150a caramel coloring added: no
Average Price (750ml): $40 (US)
