Deanston 12 Years 2012/2024 - The Cask Hound
The Deanston Distillery, located on the banks of the River Teith in the southern Highlands, is known for its unfiltered character and use of Scottish spring water. The Cask Hound has selected a special cask from the 2012 vintage and bottled it in 2024 after twelve years of maturation. The promise: pure Highland essence without compromise.
Tasting Notes
Nose
The first nosing reveals a remarkably powerful sweetness that immediately demands attention. Fresh apples dominate the initial perception, followed by a juicy orange note reminiscent of sun-kissed citrus fruits. This fruitiness is accompanied by a nutty component that adds depth to the whole. It becomes particularly exciting when you give the whisky some time in the glass: a winey note unfolds, accompanied by enticing plum jam, reminiscent of homemade jam from grandma's kitchen. Almost shyly, hints of strawberries join in, lending this powerful nose a surprisingly delicate facet. The 57.80 per cent alcohol content is present but by no means aggressive. Rather, it carries the aromas with an intensity that invites you to linger longer.
Palate
The first sip surprises with an oily, almost creamy texture that caresses the palate. The initial taste reveals this powerful sweetness once again, this time accompanied by a sweet wine characteristic reminiscent of fine dessert wine. But this Deanston is not a one-dimensional sweetie: a good dose of oak makes itself felt and brings structured dryness into play. The mineral note that develops grounds the whisky and gives it an almost stony character. Plum and apple cider alternate, with the fruitiness increasingly drifting into a more tart range. This development from a sweet start to a dry middle is masterfully balanced. The cask strength shows its strength here: every nuance of flavour is presented with maximum clarity without overwhelming the taste buds. A few drops of water can bring out the different layers even more clearly, but are not necessary.
Finish
The finish consistently continues the dry development of the palate. A pleasant warmth spreads through the chest, lasting for a medium length of time, which comes from the high alcohol content. Baking cocoa joins in, accompanied by tobacco leaves, which add an earthy, almost meditative component. The whisky shows its full power here: plenty of spice dominates the finish, with black pepper clearly noticeable. Particularly characteristic is the red wine-like note that runs through the entire finish and is probably due to the barrel ageing. This combination of warmth, spice and winey notes creates a lasting impression that lingers for minutes.
🥃 We would like to give you the opportunity to participate in a private bottle sharing at cost price with this bottle.
To our bottle sharingsThoughts
Marcel 82/100
This Deanston 12 Years is a genuine taste experience that leaves you wanting more – the fruity sweetness and the spicy finish are a charming dance on the palate. For fans of characterful Highland whiskies, this cask bottling from The Cask Hound delivers just the right amount of fun and depth. A dramatic enjoyment that’s sure to lift the mood in any convivial gathering.
Sascha 82/100
With its balanced interplay of sweet fruit notes, structured oak, and a complex, spicy finish, this Deanston 12 Years impresses as a technically accomplished cask strength. The fine integration of mineral and red wine-like nuances reveals a careful cask selection and a mature composition that offers both depth and clarity. A Highland whisky distinguished by its precision and structure.
Value for Money: Excellent
💸 This whisky offers an outstanding value for money and is our value pick.
Discover our value for money winnersRelated Reviews
Deanston 11 Years 2009/2021 - Cask 116 - Brave New Spirits
As part of The Rebels The Guerilla Casks series, a Deanston was bottled from a first fill Merlot cask. With this series, the independent bottler Brave New Spritis has set itself the task of offering whiskies from unusual casks, such as wine barriques from Asia, tequila casks from Mexico or casks for sweet wines from islands such as Madeira or Sicily.
83/100
Royal Brackla 10 Years 2014/2024 - Thompson Bros
Who would have thought that such a treasure was hidden behind the unassuming name Royal Brackla? The distillery from the Scottish Highlands often leads a shadowy existence alongside the big names, but Thompson Bros impressively proves with this 10-years bottling why Royal Brackla deserves the title "The King's Own Whisky".
86/100
Wolfburn Vibrant Stills Sauternes Cask 2016/2024 8 Years
Wolfburn, the northernmost distillery on the Scottish mainland, is known for its handcrafted and elegant whiskies. With the Vibrant Stills Sauternes Cask 2016/2024, they've once again delivered something exciting. Aged for 8 years – first in ex-bourbon, then in first-fill Sauternes wine casks from France – this release offers bright fruitiness with structure. Bottled exclusively for Germany, it’s definitely worth a closer look.
78/100Frequently Asked Questions
How does the cask maturation influence the aromas of the Deanston 12 Years 2012/2024 - The Cask Hound?
The twelve-year maturation in a special cask imparts the whisky with a complex combination of sweet, fruity notes such as apples and plum jam, along with a red wine-like character in the finish. This cask maturation also ensures a balanced harmony between sweetness, dryness, and spicy elements like black pepper and tobacco.
Why is the Deanston 12 Years 2012/2024 bottled at 57.8% ABV, and how does this affect the taste?
At 57.8% alcohol by volume, this is a cask strength bottling that presents the aromas intensely and clearly without coming across as aggressive. The high strength allows for a multi-layered tasting experience where every nuance remains distinctly perceptible. A few drops of water can help open up additional aromas but are not strictly necessary.
What special characteristics distinguish the Deanston distillery and this whisky from the Highlands region?
Deanston uses Scottish spring water and avoids chill filtration, which gives the whisky an unadulterated character. Its location on the River Teith in the southern Highlands contributes to the typical minerality also evident in the Deanston 12 Years 2012/2024. The combination of traditional production methods and careful cask selection by The Cask Hound makes this whisky particularly special.