Deanston Festival 2014 Edition

By Barry Bradford on February 8, 2015 • ( 1 Comment )

Deanston 12 Years Old Marsala Cask Finish Festival 2014 (57.2%, OB, 140 Bottles, 2014)

Highland single malt scotch whisky
57.2% ABV, £90 for 70cl available from Deanston Distillery
Score: 85/100

What they say:

Distilled in 2002 at Deanston distillery and matured for 11 years in an ex-bourbon cask before spending and additional 12 months in an ex-Marsala wine cask. The 2014 Deanston whisky festival edition was bottled at 57.2% and produced a 140 bottle outturn

What I say:

The last available bottle at the distillery No. 140 of 140, this is the 2014 festival bottling Marsala wine cask finish.

Colour:

Copper amber, light tears

Nose:

Toffee and caramel oak, peaches and brandy snaps, poached pears in wine, madeira cake, citrus fruits and sweet fruit cocktail, chlorine/swimming pool hints, cereal barley malt and sweet honey

Taste:

Deep, thick, syrupy and luscious, rich molasses, thick blossom honey, fruity peaches and nectarines, some spiced fruit/fruitcake mix, coppery tang, madeira cake, doughy fruit bread, malt loaf with honey, mince pies

Finish:

Medium, sweet, butterscotch toffee, fruity malt loaf

Overall:

Very enjoyable, rich deep flavours, the Deanston toffee character works well with the rich Marsala wine infusion. I was a little wary as previous samplings of Marsala wine finished whiskies hadn’t quite hit the spot for me but this one was an exception. Drinkable at cask strength, the sort of whisky would pair well with rich and well-aged cheese or delicatessen style food pairings.