Today we’re having a couple of Deanston whiskies in our glass: a 15-year-old Sauternes Finish, which was a distillery exclusive in 2017, and Chronicles #3. It’s been a very long time since our last Deanston review, so it was long due we reviewed a few other Deanston whiskies, with today not core range ones but two distillery exclusives. Just two Deanston today, but I guess after trying those two I’ll want to procure more of them.
Deanston 15 yo Sauternes Finish Distillery Exclusive (2017) Review
This distillery exclusive was bottled in autumn 2017 at 57.3% ABV. It underwent refill-cask maturation first, and a finish in Sauternes wine casks. This release, bottled without chill filtration nor added colour and with a yield of 1194 bottles, is obviously long gone.
Colour:
Mahogany.
Nose:
Neat: Rich and fruity, with apricots, pineapples, raisins, honey, vanilla cream and milk chocolate right away. A nutty, slightly vinous side shows up as well, with marzipan, caramel and a faint sulfur note.
With water: Water tends to freshen it up, bringing out citrus, cleaner fruit and a more sparkling impression. However, the sulfur and earthy notes are more noticeable with dilution.
Palate:
Neat: Oily and sweet with dried apricots, plums, black cherries and quince jam. Honey, milk chocolate and hazelnuts give it a rounded dessert-like feel, while allspice and oak add structure and a little grip. The Sauternes wine finish shows in two ways, with vinous notes on one side and wood tannins in another side.
With water: Dilution makes the palate feel less viscous and a bit more fruit forward, with sweet grapes, citrus and honey coming through more clearly. The nutty and roasted elements remain, but the overall profile becomes lighter and more open.
Finish:
Quite long, leaving chocolate, roasted nuts, dried fruit, oak tannins and a touch of spice. Some reviews also note a drying, slightly earthy close with lingering orange or plum fruit.
Comments:
This Deanston is a nice indulgence, with a strong Sauternes Finish influence. I don’t know Deanston enough to tell if there is still some of its character showing after the Sauternes finish, but I do am able to tell it is a very good whisky nonetheless. The high ABV also works quite well, bringing oiliness to the palate but without being overwhelming at all.
Rating: 7/10
Deanston Chronicles Edition 3 (2025) Review
This Deanston Chronicles is the third edition of this limited distillery exclusive (2400 bottles) vatted four casks from four decades – 1974 Canasta sherry, 1993 Manzanilla sherry, 2002 French PX sherry and 2013 rum – bottled at natural strength (52.8% ABV). This is bottled without chill filtration nor added colour. The RRP is £90 but I’m not sure if it is still available at the distillery.
Colour:
Chestnut.
Nose:
Neat: Deep, earthy sherry maturity from the 1974 Canasta leads with dried fruits, nuts and rich toffee. Lighter manzanilla and PX add floral camomile, orange peel, honey and raisin sweetness, while rum brings tropical pineapple and vanilla.
With water: The nose now opens to brighter citrus, honey and floral notes, softening the intense sherry earthiness.
Palate:
Neat: Waxy and full-bodied with layered sherry depth: dark fruits, marzipan, coffee and leather from Canasta, balanced by PX raisins and Manzanilla brine. Rum cask contributes caramel, banana and spice for vibrant contrast.
With water: Smoother integration of fruit, wax and spice; the four casks harmonise better across decades.
Finish:
Long and warming with persistent oak, dried fruit, nutty sherry and subtle rum tropicality.
Comments:
This Deanston Chronicles Edition 3 could have been a mess because of the different types of casks used, but Deanston’s Master Blended successfully married these casks into a coherent, very good and successful single malt.