Everytime when a whisky matured, or in this case finished, in a Fino Sherry cask pops up, my interest peaks. Apart from actually liking Fino Sherry, I find it imparts great flavors on whiskies through the reuse of the oak.

It’s more dry and spicy than most other Sherry casks, and sometimes even brings a little bitter note.

On the other hand, Deanston is not a distillery I enormously enjoy. I often find their whiskies a little bland, or so heavily cask influenced that the pendulum swing the other way entirely. But, if this was a nice bourbon cask before it was transferred into the Fino cask, it should be good. I was game for a sample.

Sniff:
A slight salty dryness with grape must. Quite some oak, a grape seed bitter note too. Very drifferent from the more common fruity sherry casks. Some baking spices and sawdust.

Sip:
The palate brings more spiciness, the baking spices and the sawdust. Some bitter fruits, with plum stones, almonds, date stones. Again, it’s very dry.

Swallow:
The finish is very similar to the palate. Some fruit, lots of spices, a bit of bitterness. Very dry and that touch of salinity from the nose makes a reappearance too.

In this case, I think it’s very nice that Deanston isn’t too flavorful by itself. Generally I want the spirit to shine through as well as the cask, but the Fino does the job very well on its own. I love the dryness, even though most spices and fruits stay a little nondescript. A very drinkable and good Deanston.

87/100