Deanston 20

Nose: Sweet berry jam, citrus, rubber, ginger, honey Palate: Wet hay, strawberries, dark chocolate, rubber Finish: A medium, chewy finish with hints of rubber and a strange sourness Wow. No. I'm typically a big fan of this distillery, but this one didn't work for me. I struggled to drink even an ounce. The rubber note is present throughout (which I dislike), and there's a peculiar sour note I haven't encountered before in a whiskey that I don't enjoy. Some other strange flavors are present that I can't—and don't want to—identify. Avoid it.

Notes of sultana, raisin, orange peel, and carob are present. An ex-olorosso cask suggested a winner, despite previous less-than-great deanstons. This one is good, though it has a slight sulfur taint that dissipates after adding a little water. It opened up nicely with a few drops. A score of 4 to 4.25 seems appropriate. It won't replace a favorite standard ex-oloroso, but it's comparable.

The aroma has notes of peanut skins and spent matches (a sulfurous scent, but not off-putting). It tastes rich, syrupy, and slightly sweet. The finish is of medium length and syrupy, with a bit of spice and a hint of sulfur. I'm not familiar with this distillery, so I can't say how much the spirit itself contributes, but it seems mostly influenced by the cask. It's a decent enough sherry-matured whiskey, but not one I'd try again.

We've all heard "Sherry Bomb" and tried them. Forget the others. If you enjoy Sherry, this is the one. Believe me...it's like enjoying a rich glass of Olorosso Sherry. This is a high-quality product from beginning to end.

Fantastic pour featuring chocolate, toffee, raisins, spices, citrus, and vanilla.

Spicy smooth texture hint of vanilla very subtle