Deanston 2014/2024 Coopers Choice 10 Years Old Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky 52,5%

Sauternes exists because a fungus attacks the grapes and draws the water out of them. The result is one of the world's sweetest white wines — and a cask that does something quite particular to whisky.

Expert description

Deanston 2014/2024 Coopers Choice 10 years is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in bourbon wood with a final maturation in a Sauternes cask and bottled at 52.5% without chill filtration and without added colouring.

The whisky was distilled in 2014 and bottled in 2024 from cask number 1149 by The Vintage Malt Whisky Company in Glasgow as part of the Cooper's Choice range. Sauternes comes from Bordeaux and is made from grapes affected by noble rot, which concentrates the sugar. On a honeyed Highland malt like Deanston it reinforces the sweetness rather than working against it.

Tasting notes

Nose

Honey, apricot and orange marmalade, with vanilla and a light floral note from the wine cask.

Palate

Full and sweet. Ripe fruit, honey and spice, with oak and a creamy texture. The Sauternes cask lays a layer of concentrated fruit sweetness over the house honey.

Finish

Long and warm, with fruit, spice and a dry oak note at the close.

Specifications

Name: Deanston 2014/2024 Coopers Choice 10 years Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky 52,5%
Distillery: Deanston
Bottler: The Coopers Choice
Region/Country: Highlands Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 10 years
ABV: 52.5%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Bourbon cask with a Sauternes finish, cask no. 1149
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 2014
Bottled: 2024
EAN no.: 5024720863290

Flavour profile

Honeyed · Fruity · Spiced · Creamy · Wine Cask

Investment potential

Medium. A single cask with a Sauternes finish from a bottler working with individual casks. Wine cask finishes of this kind exist in small numbers.

Did you know?

Noble rot sounds like something that ruins a harvest, and most of the time it does. Only under very particular humidity does the fungus draw water from the grapes without spoiling them — which is what makes Sauternes both rare and expensive.

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Frequently asked questions about Deanston 2014/2024 Coopers Choice 10 years

What is Sauternes?

A sweet white wine from Bordeaux made from grapes affected by noble rot. The fungus draws water out of the grapes and concentrates the sugar, giving a very sweet and aromatic wine.

What does a Sauternes cask do to whisky?

It adds honey, apricot and a floral sweetness. On an already honeyed whisky like Deanston it reinforces the house character rather than pushing against it.

How long was the finish?

The whisky spent most of its life in bourbon wood and was moved to the Sauternes cask for the final part of maturation. It is those last years that give the fruit sweetness.

Should I add water?

At 52.5% a couple of drops can open the fruit. Try it neat first, because the sweetness from the Sauternes cask dilutes away quickly.

What is Cooper's Choice?

The Vintage Malt Whisky Company's range of single cask releases. The Glasgow house has selected individual casks from distilleries across Scotland since 1992.

What defines Deanston?

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