Deanston 18 Year Cognac Cask

This distillery is relatively new, established in 1967 in an old riverside mill. Their 12 and 18-year-old expressions have been generating buzz. This is a limited bottling from around 2015/16, seemingly for the US market. It presents a pleasant citrus scent, along with grassy and vanilla notes (perhaps from cognac?). The taste is comparable to a lightly hopped beer – malty, slightly bitter, with some citrus. The finish is spicy and peppery, possibly a bit too oak-forward. It suggests an 18-year-old that might have undergone secondary aging in cognac casks due to original barrel results. While it's a lighter spirit, it has a satisfying thickness and mouthfeel, with a touch of freshness. It's somewhat like drinking beer, amusingly. The absence of coloring and chill-filtration is commendable; all producers should adopt this. The alcohol content is also healthy, which is a plus. I'm surprised by the distillery's rating; it seems a bit inflated. The bottle isn't cheap, but it is 18 years old. Given its age, allowing it to rest for 15-30 minutes is recommended, as it improves significantly with time in the glass. I increased my rating because it was considerably better after a 20-minute rest, revealing more vanilla on the palate and less harshness.

Would this be a worthwhile bottle to collect?