Deanston 12 Year Sherry Oak

The Deanston 12 year Sherry Oak is distinct from the standard 12 year. This edition, exclusive to the Taiwanese market, was won at auction. My only information regarding its maturation is “finished in sherry casks”; the primary maturation casks are unknown (I suspect a blend of bourbon and sherry), and the finishing duration is also unclear (I estimate 6-12 months). It's bottled at 40% ABV, chill-filtered, and likely contains added colorant, giving it a lovely ruby red hue. Remarkably sweet. The nose is intensely sweet with pronounced sherry notes. Abundant sweet fruits like raisins, dates, grapes, plums, and prunes. Brown sugar, vanilla, toffee, milk chocolate, honey, and toasted oak. It presents as fresh grainy bread and spiced fruitcake, truly like a cavity-inducing Christmas celebration in a glass. Subtle notes of orange, pear, and apricot emerge. Banana bread and a touch of sulfur appear later, but these sulfur notes are minimal and unobtrusive. Some might find it excessively sweet, but it's perfect for me. Similar to the nose, the palate is overwhelmingly sweet. Sherry, toffee, and plenty of honey are present. Raisins, fruitcake, and nutmeg. Spicy chocolate provides a slight counterpoint to the sweetness, with a faint bitterness from a walnut note. Flavors of orange, dried mango, and apricot are noticeable. It's sticky and syrupy sweet, truly a dessert dram. The mouthfeel is light to medium-bodied, feeling somewhat watery and dry. A medium-length finish that is sticky sweet with notes of fruitcake and sherry, accompanied by sulfur and a dry character. Far too sweet for regular enjoyment, but it would be a fitting choice after a light meal when craving dessert. It suggests that those in Taiwan must have a significant sweet preference if this is representative of their preferred scotch. I genuinely enjoyed the aroma and could appreciate it for an extended period. The palate, however, is where it falters. Aside from a little spice and bread, it's exclusively sweet. The hammer price was $44, and even with buyer's fees and shipping, I consider it a reasonable cost for what was received. A score of 3.75. Cheers

This was a challenging evaluation. My initial tasting on Day 1 resulted in a burning sensation on the palate, so I revisited it on Day 2. On the nose, a very fruit-forward profile with strong citrus aromas (Mandarin orange?). Some alcohol is present but well below its stated 54% strength. Perhaps a subtle hint of vanilla in the background? Difficult to ascertain. Undiluted on the tongue, it quickly burns, and citrus dominates. A brief finish with minimal depth. Adding water reveals moderate visual swirls and amplifies the citrus even more on both the nose and the palate. Some subtle toffee emerges, but the burn persists. The finish remains short. Deanston came highly recommended, and at $120, it was somewhat disappointing.