Dark Chocolate

Deanston Virgin Oak

Deanston Virgin Oak

Deanston is relatively new for a distillery in Scotland, being converted from the a cotton mill that was almost two centuries old when converted to a distillery in 1966. Since that time, Deanston has created a number of blended and single malt whiskies, albeit with occasional bouts of stoppage due to diminished demand or other factors. There are 2 wash stills and 2 spirit stills, which produce a total of 3 million liters per year, offerings ranging from a core line of aged and unaged whiskies. It is also the only distillery currently in Scotland to be self-sustaining from an electrical standpoint, powered by a hydro-electric facility on site. The Deanston Virgin Oak is part of their core line up. Matured at first in ex-bourbon barrels like a majority of scotches, it is then finished for 9-12 months in fresh virgin casks from Kelvin Cooperage in Kentucky, a family operation that got their start by the River Kelvin in Glasgow, Scotland. While using virgin oak is normal for bourbon in the United States, it is very rare to see in scotch production. 

Tamdhu Batch Strength

Tamdhu Batch Strength

Though Tamdhu was able to get off the ground and running fairly quickly after opening their doors again in 2012, for the distillery had only been closed a few years prior and there were still stocks to make use of. While there are currently two age statement offerings in the portfolio, the rest of the main line is comprised of No Age Statement scotches, like this Tamdhu Batch Strength. First introduced in 2015, this scotch comes in at cask strength but is released in yearly batches that differ slightly in percentage year to year. Like all Tamdhu offerings, this is aged entirely in ex-Spanish sherry casks from Spain. 

Fettercairn Fior

Fettercairn Fior

Fettercairn seems a distillery practiced at running under the radar. It has existed on two sites (not simultaneously), been closed and reopened, then bought and sold since beginning production in 1824. The distillery is currently owned by Whyte & Mackay (owner of the Jura and Dalmore distilleries), which is owned by Emperador, which is owned by Alliance Global Group. Never seeming to have a great deal of time in the limelight that other, better known distilleries enjoy, Fettercairn is nevertheless known for a unique method of cooling their stills involving running water down the outside that results in only the lightest elements being collected, along with the beautiful, patina-coated stills resulting from the curious method. This Fettercairn Fior serves as an introduction to the core expression.