Tasting Notes for Deanston Virgin Oak Single Malt Whisky
Nose: Heady virgin oak, bursting with lemon zest and sweet barley sugar, with delicious notes of apple and nutmeg.
Taste: A delightful sweetness, evoking memories of candied fruits and vanilla toffee, balanced with heather honey.
Finish: A satisfying light spice, with a rewarding burst of honeyed malt and sweet oakiness.
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Deanston Virgin Oak is a Highland single malt whisky from Deanston distillery, which has been certified by the Organic Food Association and is entirely powered by electricity from their own watermill - so you can always feel good about yourself while drinking their Scotch. They are the largest distillery owned by Burn Stewart Distillers Ltd, who also own Bunnahabhain and Tobermory distilleries and needless to say, they know how to make a good whisky.
Crafted by hand, this Deanston is first matured in ex-bourbon casks from a family run cooperage in Kentucky, creating its subtle but zesty character, the golden spirit is then finished in Virgin Oak casks, adding subtle spicy aromas. Like all Deanston single malts, Virgin Oak is non-chill filtered and bottled at 46.3% abv with no colouring added.
Deanston Virgin Oak is simple in a good way. Deanston’s light spirit helps balance the young whisky matured in new oak. A straight forward, yet sophisticated and fresh dram in good balance.
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World Whisky Awards: Category Winner - 2021
The Spirits Business Awards: Gold Medal - 2021
International Spirits Challenge: Gold Medal - 2020
Singapore World Spirits Competition: Double Gold - 2019 -
Deanston distillery is a Single Malt Scotch whisky distillery located in the Highland region on the banks of the River Teith, eight miles from the historic town of Stirling, at the gateway to the dramatic Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Park. It is the largest distillery owned by Scotch whisky producer Burn Stewart Distillers Ltd, who also own Bunnahabhain Distillery on the Isle of Islay and Tobermory distillery on the Isle of Mull.
The Distillery buildings started life in 1785 as a cotton mill designed by Sir Richard Arkwright (who invented the Spinning Jenny), and in its heyday it employed 1,500 people. The mill also housed what was once Europe’s largest watermill, harnessing the power of the River Teith. When the old mill was converted to a distillery in 1966, the watermill was hooked up to generators and put to good use, currently supplying enough electricity for the entire distillery operations, offices, shop, and visitor centre - making Deanston the only distillery in Scotland which is self-sufficient in electricity.
Deanston Distillery looks very unlike a traditional Scotch whisky distillery and has a number of unique production features which contribute to its distinct character in taste and look. The spirit is handmade by a small team of local craftsmen who rely on traditional distilling techniques; no technology or computers are used. Deanston uses only Scottish-grown barley and in 2000, was one of the first distilleries in Scotland to start producing organic whisky, certified by the Organic Food Federation and using barley grown in specially selected sites, free from pesticides and chemicals.
The distillery uses an 11-ton open-topped mash tun - the only one of its size in Scotland - and four unique pot stills with upwards sloping lyne arms and boiling balls. These unique stills, along with maturation in the cool, humid conditions of original weaving shed built in the 1830s, and the River Teith’s soft waters which are fed from feeder streams flowing through granite and peat beds, help give Deanston the light, nutty, malty and restorative style of whisky which they have become well known for.
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Producer Deanston Distillery Style Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky Age No Age Statement Volume 70CL ABV 46.3%