Deerstalker 12 years old Single Highland Malt Unchill-Filtered Whisky 70 cl 43%

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

Frequently asked questions about Deerstalker 12 Years Old

What does Deerstalker 12 Years Old taste like?

Fresh, fruity and gently tart with vanilla as a soft base. The nose gives green apple and peach, the palate moves towards pear and lemon peel, and the finish turns drier with spice and oak. This is a malt that rewards patience rather than overwhelming you.

Is Deerstalker 12 Years Old peated?

No. Balmenach works with unpeated malt and there is no measurable smoke in the glass. If peat smoke is what you are after, head west to our range of Islay Whisky.

What characterises whisky from Balmenach?

A heavier, oilier body than most of its neighbours. That comes from the worm tubs, which give the vapour less contact with copper and therefore a fuller spirit. The house style is malty and fruity rather than floral.

Which distillery is behind Deerstalker?

Balmenach, near Cromdale in north-east Scotland. Deerstalker is the name of the bottler, Aberko of Glasgow, and not of a distillery, which is why you find both a distillery and a bottler on the label.

Which glass suits Deerstalker 12 Years Old best?

A tulip-shaped glass such as a Glencairn gathers the fresh fruit notes at the rim, where a wide tumbler simply lets them escape. Have a look at our whisky glasses.

Should you add water?

Try it neat first. At 43% it is already soft enough to open on its own, but a few drops of water pull the vanilla forward and take the edge off the tart opening.

Is this a good first single malt?

Yes. It is fruity, unpeated and easy to approach without being dull, and because it is not chill filtered you get a fuller texture than many entry-level bottles offer. Compare it with our range of Highland Whisky.