The Cromdale hills rise behind Balmenach like an old spine of heather and granite. Whisky has been made here since 1824, and the distillery has never been in any hurry to shout about it. Deerstalker takes casks from this quiet place and lets them speak at their own pace.
The expert description
Deerstalker 12 Years Old is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky from Balmenach, matured in oak casks and bottled at 43% without chill filtration.
Balmenach sits beside the village of Cromdale, right on the line where the Highlands slip into Speyside. James MacGregor founded the distillery in 1824, and it is owned today by Inver House. Almost all of the spirit disappears into blends, which is why so few bottles carry the Balmenach name on the front.
The Deerstalker range comes from Aberko in Glasgow, a house that has held on to one principle throughout: the whisky is bottled without chill filtration. It is a small decision with a large consequence, because the oils that would otherwise be filtered out stay in the bottle and give the whisky a fuller texture.
Tasting notes
Nose
Fresh and gently tart. Green apple and peach arrive first, then a dusting of vanilla underneath and a dry, almost powdery grain note reminiscent of the air inside an old warehouse.
Palate
It opens tight and sour, then unfolds into pale fruit, pear and lemon peel, while a soft sweetness of vanilla and demerara sugar settles beneath.
Finish
Fuller and longer than 43% would suggest. Spice, toasted bread and a final dry note of oak.
Specifications
Name: Deerstalker 12 Years Old
Distillery: Balmenach
Bottler: Deerstalker
Region/Country: Highland Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 12 years
ABV: 43%
Size: 70 CL
Non-chill filtered: Yes
EAN no.: 5030748100347
Flavour profile
Fresh · Fruity · Soft · Lightly spiced · Malty
Did you know?
Balmenach belongs to the small handful of Scottish distilleries still condensing their spirit in worm tubs, long coiled pipes submerged in cold water outside the stillhouse. The method is slow and takes up space, but it produces a heavier, meatier spirit than any modern condenser can deliver.
See our full range of Balmenach
