Deanston 1991 28 Year Old Muscat Finish

Fifth in the countdown to 300, with two more years on this dram. I'm unfamiliar with Deanston and haven't tried their spirits before. This was distilled in 1991, initially aged in ex-Bourbon, then finished for two years in ex-Muscat casks. Muscat on last night's Bladnoch Talia 26 was like a blast of potpourri; let's see how Deanston's florals compare. Nose: Indeed, floral. A gentle aroma, yet complex. Bright and juicy with stone fruit, dark berries, and dried fruits. The sweetness is well-supported by toffee and vanilla. Florals dominate; fresh blossoms blend with orange spritz and a tropical note. Faintly malty and oaky in the background. Palate: Sweet and wine-like initially. An oily texture emerges, otherwise almost excessively sweet. Surprisingly tannic and spicy with dominant old oak spice and hints of sweet cinnamon. It becomes waxier with time and honeyed. A touch of cocoa, a splash of blackcurrant, and throughout, puffs of orange and perfume. Finish: Medium. Creamy, fading to sticky and sweet. Sultanas, some shortcrust pastry, leather, and more oak. Huh. I had no expectations, but this wasn't it. If it weren't for the waxy oak, I'd guess 15 years, certainly not 28. The malt trying to break free from the thick Muscat finish would be great if it showed brighter; there's not enough savory to counter the intense sticky sweetness. The nose is the best part of this dram. The florals are persistent yet gentle, offering lovely brightness. The palate is a letdown, lacking the nose's depth, and the finish hints at potential, but the heavy finish prevents the palate from shining. Whisky taste #296 [Pictured with a fine Eclogite from Monte Torretta in Piémont, NW Italy. This remarkable specimen, another piece of our planet's deep crust, represents extreme metamorphic pressures now exposed on the surface. This rock was once gabbro and is now a blend of red garnets, green omphacite, rare blue glaucophane, and retrograde flaky micas]

Tasting event featuring a distillery and others, June 15, 2022, Sydney. Spirit #6. Aroma: Blackcurrant juice, raisin, sultana, sweet grape juice, cashew, caramel, honey, orange, peach, pecan pie, rose-hip syrup, and guava. A deeply floral and fruity aroma. Mouthfeel: Huge initial taste – sweet, soft, enveloping fruits and fortified wine. It settles down during development with spicy honeyed notes and an oily mocha character. The mouthfeel remains mellow and enveloping throughout. The texture is rich, creamy, voluptuous, and has a slight waxiness. Finish: Medium/long. Grape jelly, sweet fruit tart, and spice with a little dry oak. This was an unplanned extra sample included in the lineup as the second-to-last tasting of the night. We received this blind and were only informed it was a finished spirit from a specific distillery, and challenged to guess the age and cask type. The general opinion was that it was well-aged, likely around 20 years, matured in bourbon casks with a fortified wine finish. Some individuals correctly identified muscat (I guessed sauternes), and a couple guessed muscat and 28 years old (which seemed remarkably precise… hmm). This is the smoothest, fullest-bodied, and most accessible spirit from that distillery I have encountered. I'm not a huge fan of their spirits, but this is a good one. However, I was surprised to learn it was 28 years old (my guess was 18), and at times during the tasting, I felt it was almost a caricature of a spirit, with the finish being applied too heavily. I have seen this offered for $450-550 from various sellers, but the typical price is around $480. That's quite expensive, and I wouldn't spend that much, but nowadays, it's not unreasonable for a 28-year-old spirit (unfortunately). 'Very Good': 85/100 (4 stars).

The aroma is sweet like brown sugar with fruit notes. It boasts rich, deep fruit flavors and a smooth, viscous texture, complemented by a touch of spice. The ending is brief, featuring a subtle coffee and chocolate essence.