Deanston 12 years old version Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky 40%

Before Deanston raised the strength and dropped the filtration, the 12 year old stood at 40 percent. This is that bottle — the house style as it was before the change.

Expert description

Deanston 12 years Old Version is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in ex-bourbon casks and bottled at 40%.

The release predates Deanston moving its core range to 46.3%, without chill filtration and without added colouring. The old version is lighter in body and more restrained than today's, but the underlying character is the same: honey, malt and apple from a distillery housed in a converted cotton mill by the River Teith. For anyone who knows the current 12 year old, it is a direct comparison of what the change meant.

Tasting notes

Nose

Soft and light. Honey, apple and malt, with vanilla and a pale cereal note.

Palate

Round and restrained. Malt, honey and pale fruit, with a mild spiced warmth. The body is lighter than in the current release, but the balance is good.

Finish

Short to medium, dry and malty with a faint honeyed sweetness.

Specifications

Name: Deanston 12 years Old Version Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky 40%
Distillery: Deanston
Region/Country: Highlands Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 12 years
ABV: 40 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Ex-bourbon casks
Edition: Old Version
EAN no.: 5013261150471

Flavour profile

Soft · Honeyed · Malty · Light · Unpeated

Investment potential

Medium. The old 12 year old is discontinued and replaced by the current one at 46.3%. Bottlings from before the change keep getting harder to find.

Did you know?

Deanston generates its own electricity from hydroelectric power on the River Teith and uses less than the plant produces. The surplus is sold to the grid — the distillery has been making money on electricity long before anyone called it sustainability.

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Frequently asked questions about Deanston 12 years Old Version

What is the difference between the old and current 12 year old?

Strength and treatment. The old one sits at 40% and is chill filtered, while the current one is bottled at 46.3% without filtration and without colouring. The new one has more body, the old one is lighter and more restrained.

When did the style change?

The change came when Deanston decided to bottle the core range without chill filtration and without caramel colouring while raising the strength. The exact date is not on the bottle, but the format reveals which side of the shift it sits on.

Is it worth keeping?

It is discontinued and will not be made again, and for a collector it is interesting to hold both versions of the same whisky. It is one of the most concrete ways to see what a style change does.

Is it peated?

No. Deanston uses no peated malt, either before or after the change. For smoke, head towards Islay Whisky.

How is it best enjoyed?

Neat in a tulip glass at room temperature. At 40% it does not take much water, and ice shuts down the honeyed notes.

What defines Deanston?

A soft, honeyed and malty Highland style from a converted cotton mill by the River Teith. See the rest of the region in our Highland Whisky.