Review: Deanston Tequila Cask Finish 15 Years Old

Scotch casks tend to make it to Mexico for use in tequila. The other way around… not so much.

Deanston Distillery mixes that up with this 15 year old — blending “the essence of the Scottish and Mexican Highlands.”

The whisky starts out spending 13 years in traditional Oak hogsheads before being finished for 2 years in Highlands-born tequila casks. It’s a rare tour for Scotch, so let’s see how it all pans out.

The nose is immediately curious. a true combination of Highland Scotch whisky and peppery tequila. There’s a heavy cereal note, driving grains and a classic undercurrent of mushroom — but it’s livened up by a brisk greenery note, with touches of spicy jalapeno and black pepper. If you’ve ever found middle-age Scotch to be on the boring, expected side, the aromatics here may start to change things for you. A spray of spices lead the way on the palate — both baking spices and those agave-driven pepper notes. The whisky quickly settles down into a more traditional groove, showcasing honeyed cereal grains, graham crackers, and golden syrup. A touch of coconut on the finish and some white pepper brings things back to hotter climes. There are times where the whisky doesn’t feel perfectly balanced — how could it? — but somehow it pulls things off pretty well.

105 proof.

B+ / $280/ deanstonmalt.com [BUY IT NOW FROM RESERVEBAR]

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