Icons of WTF Utrecht – Deanston

I almost can’t believe it has been two weeks already… Whisky Tasting Festival Utrecht or for short WTF, was once again a blast! Co-organised by my dear friend Norbert Tebarts! Who my fellow Dutch whisky lovers will surely also know from Whisky4all. Norbert is without a doubt the leading expert on American Whiskies in The Netherlands, and since he always helps to select the casks for the festival bottlings, we’ve had some amazing American drams over the years. But aside from his expertise on American Whisky he knows a hell of a lot about Scotch as well! As he showcases with this excellent bottling of 10-year-old Deanston spirit, distilled in 2012.

Deanston is, in my opinion, an absolute gem of a distillery. One that perhaps sometimes flies a bit under the radar, but it’s surely on mine and thus I was excited to learn that this year’s festival bottling would be from this Highland Distillery. But there’s some good news for all of you as well… there’s still a couple of bottles available! So, if you’re reading the review below and find yourself eager to try this bottle for yourself, then quickly order your bottle right here! Full Disclosure: I’m not getting paid in any way for this review, but I did receive a free sample. I didn’t use affiliate links for this post either and I wrote my tasting notes unbiased.

Tasting Notes: Icons of WTF Utrecht – Deanston 2012

Stats:

ABV: 51% (102 proof)

Age: 10 years old

Distillery: Deanston

Category: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Chill-Filtered: No

Natural Colour: Yes

Nose:

A hot steaming bowl of porridge approaches you as you lower your nose to the glass. It’s paired with some brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. But I’m also finding some fruity nuances in this dram. There are raisins, dried apples, and just a hint of plums. Very well balanced and warming, a nose perfect for a winter dram.

Palate:

The palate packs more of a punch than the nose and what stands out immediately is healthy dose of influence from the oak. There’s plenty of tannins, paired with liquorice root and vanilla. Some sweeter notes like caramel appear as well (which I’m finding vaguely reminiscent of Werther’s Originals) but some darker notes like ground coffee and mocha beans appear as well. This is a lovely complex dram that would go extremely well with a hot cup of joe!

Finish:

The finish is long and what remains most of all is those dark coffee notes. Mocha, dark chocolate and fresh ground espress beans. A little bit of ginger and a touch of lemon appear as well. But it’s the darker notes that remain strongest and the best thing is that they can be enjoyed for a very long time.

Verdict:

From fresh porridge to coffee, this Icons of WTF Utrecht Deanston that will definitely warm you up on a cold winter night. I personally love these darker flavours and if you’re a fan of things like espresso, extra dark chocolate, and a dusting of cacao powder on your cappucinno… than I think this will be an instant hit for you. Get yourself a bottle before they run out! If you’re looking for a sweeter, fruitier dram or perhaps something heavily peated? Then this might not be your cup of tea (or should I say coffee?). Either way, I’m going to pour myself another one!

Rating:

90/100