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Deanston 23 Year Old Oloroso Cask Matured Review

What makes the Deanston 23-Year-Old Oloroso Cask Edition stand out among other sherry cask whiskies? Discover its unique dry, nutty character here.

OVERALL RATING

9
$215
  • Mark Bostock, a whisky enthusiast specializing in independent bottlings.
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Tasting Notes

About:

A limited-edition single malt release from Highland’s Deanston distillery. Distilled in 1995, and matured for 23 years in Oloroso sherry casks before bottling in 2019. Only 1473 bottles were produced, without added colour or chill filtration, bottled at 50.2% ABV.
Appearance:
Rich Amber
Nose:
Initially quite a dry heavy note on the nose. Allowed to breathe aromas of thick sherry, fruit cake, and dried fruits develop accompanied by orange citrus, vanilla, and toffee. There are quite nutty notes, with a touch of leather and furniture polish. In the background tobacco leaf, which becomes more earthy.
Palate:
On the palate, dry old sherry opens leading into honeycomb chocolate and honey. Lots of nutty notes develop, a mix of hazelnuts, almonds, and walnuts. Drier and spicy notes follow including tobacco leaf, cinnamon, and nutmeg, with a background note of old leather.
Finish:
Long, led by old dense sherry wood that’s a little musty fading into tobacco, roasted nuts, and oak. At the close a hint of black tea, and earthy nutmeg.
Comments:
A well-aged limited-edition release, the Deanston 23-Year-Old Oloroso Cask Edition seems more focused on the dry and nutty side of Oloroso sherry cask maturation than the rich fruity and sweeter notes emphasised by many whisky releases. I especially enjoyed the old sherry wood, nutty flavours and tobacco notes. The sherry character is clearly present, but it feels like it’s the old oak which leads the cask influence.

This is a great example of an older Deanston expression, for distillery enthusiasts and fans of well-aged sherry cask matured whiskies.

Editor’s Note: This whiskey was either bought as a sample by The Whiskey Wash or provided to us as a review sample by the party behind it. Per our editorial policies, this in no way influenced the outcome of this review.

Mark Bostock

Mark Bostock, an integral part of the Mark Littler LTD UK content writing team since 2019, brings a genuine passion for whisky, especially independent bottlings, to his work. His commitment to expanding his knowledge through attending tasting events and building his own collection enriches his contributions, blending expertise with enthusiasm.

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