Deanston X Dragons Milk Stout Finish

The Deanston distillery sits on the banks of the River Teith, the river which acts as the distillery's water source. The waters of the River Teith are among Scotland's purest and the headwaters rise in the Trossach mountain range. Deanston was founded in 1965 on the site of an 18th century weaving shed, just outside the village of Doune in Perthshire.

The main part of the distillery is sited in a listed cotton mill. A turbine and dam, which employ the waters of the Teith, render Deanston electrically self-sufficient. In 1971, the first single malt Scotch whisky was released from Deanston and named Old Bannockburn. A year later, the distillery was under Invergordon ownership. Deanston had been closed for some eight years when Burn Stewart Distillers acquired the distillery for the princely sum of £2.1million and a year later Deanston distillery was back in production. A further four years after that and the site played host to a gin distillery as well.

This is a collaboration between the Deanston distillery and Dragon's Milk, a bourbon barrel-aged stout. Distilled in 2012, the single malt was initially matured in re-charred whisky casks before a 2 year finishing in casks that previously held Dragon's Milk stout, imparting decadent and complex layers of floral malt and sweet spice. An intriguing sipper for fans of experimental cask finishes, and a fab choice to enjoy as a follow-up to a quality craft beer.

Tasting Notes

Nose: Fresh apples, a whisper of cherry blossom, and gently herbaceous malt.

Palate: Biscuity, with sweet cakey spice countering warmer layers of peppery heat. Candied orange creeps, with just a touch of bitter cacao.

Finish: Burnt sugar, more prickles of spice, lemon drops, and drying, nutty oak.