Deanston – 12 Years (70cl, 46.3%)

Deanston 12 Years is the flagship bottling of the Deanston distillery near Stirling, a Highland single malt in a 70cl bottle. It is bottled at 46.3% ABV rather than the 40% minimum, with natural colour and without chill filtration. The distillery has been running since 1965, in a converted cotton mill. The nose offers heather honey, creamy caramel, vanilla, sweet oak, citrus and gingerbread. The palate is creamy, with soft vanilla, heather honey, sweet oak, citrus and malty sweetness, and the dry finish brings honeyed fruit and gingerbread.