From Master of Malt
A fab collab here between the Deanston distillery and Dragon's Milk, a bourbon barrel-aged stout. Distilled in 2012, the single malt was initially matured in re-charred whisky casks before finishing in casks that previously held Dragon's Milk stout, imparting decadent and complex layers of floral malt and sweet spice. An intriguing sipper for fans of experimental cask finishes, and a fab choice to enjoy as a follow-up to a quality craft beer.
Tasting Note by The Chaps at Master of Malt
Nose: Fresh apples, a whisper of cherry blossom, and gently herbaceous malt.
Palate: Biscuity, with sweet cakey spice countering warmer layers of peppery heat. Candied orange creeps, with just a touch of bitter cacao.
Finish: Burnt sugar, more prickles of spice, lemon drops, and drying, nutty oak.
From The Whisky Exchange
A sweet, malty experimental single malt from Deanston that was distilled in 2012 and initially matured in re-charred whisky casks, before being finished in Dragon's Milk stout casks. Aromas of sweet flowers, rich malt, red apples and freshly-cut grass fill the nose, complemented by notes of white pepper, red chilli, vanilla, dark chocolate, lemon zest and powdered sugar throughout the palate and lingering in the finish.
Review 107 - 2nd March 2021
This review is our second bottle review featuring input from a member of the whisky community providing valuable insight into the whisky, but with a twist.
We sent Omar from the Black Barrel Sippers Club a blind sample, that is, a 50ml bottle filled with todays whisky, but with no clue as to what the liquid was, it could be any type of whisky from anywhere in the world, any strength or age. If you have ever done a blind whisky tasting, you will understand the challenge that lay ahead for Omar. However, since the tasting was free of prejudice or any form of preconvieved opinion, the tasting would provide a valuable insight into the whisky at hand.
Today was look at a Amazon exclusive bottling from Deanston Highland Distillery, the Dragons Milk Stout Finished Single Malt Whisky. Before we go on, we should point out, that we have become fans of Deanston Whisky, infact, it would be fair to say that so far, every whisky that has come from a Distell owned distillery, we have enjoyed, having a blind dram input in this instance would help rein in our review and keep it factual and less of an emotional one, or so we hope.
The Dragons Milk Stout Finished Whisky was first distilled in December 2012, where it was filled into recharred bourbon casks before being transferred in August 2019 for a finishing period in the Dragons Milk Stout casks. The Whisky became available to purchase on Amazon in early to mid 2020 making this whisky around 7 years old.
It is bottled at a very healthy 50.5% ABV, is non chil filtered and natural colour.
Since it is only available on amazon, there is only one price to go on, however, being Amazon the price does vary, currently it retails for £41.35, but we purchased it for £45 back in July 2020 when the price just so happen to be the most expensive, it has varied and at its lowest would have cost £38.13, you can see the pricing trend via camelcamelcamel.com
For the value score, we have used the current price, which is just below the average, it achieves 98.83 out of 100, which represents excellent value for money, even though it is a non age statement whisky, technically 7 year old.
On the nose, it is honey sweet with citrus notes of lemon, there are spices and pepperyness. There is also some other vegetal note, that we couldn't put our finger on, however, Omar was able to pick out Lemon, Greengage, White Pepper spice and some green pine, the latter would be the vegetal note we were getting which would be the hop influence from the finishing cask.
On the palate, we noted that it was a medium sweetness with a slighlt creamy malt biscuit quality, lemon, honey and vanilla. There was also a rather resinous green note, again possibly the hop influence. The finish is spicy, slightly bitter and a touch drying.
Omar noted pinapple, pepper and ginger.
Omar considered the ABV to be around 43% ABV, which considering, for out mind, the spirit was well hidden, isn't a bad guess. When asked to consider the age, he suggested it was a non age statement, which is correct. As for cask type, Omar suggested it to be ex-bourbon, which is almost correct, identifying it a re-charred when there was a secondary period of maturation, would be a superhuman achievement to identify, we aren't suggesting the Omar isn't superhuman, he may well be. But credit must be given for picking up the green pine on the nose, if you have ever been around enough varieties of hops, pine is good way to describe the all encompassing note.
Omar considered the price to be around £25, he said its not offensive, would make a good gateway whisky. He suspected that whisky could be a Deanston Virgin Oak and a highland whisky, hats off to Omar here, he got the region and the distillery on this one. Omar must be superhuman.
We don't consider this to be a gateway whisky, the strength is too high and it is easy drinking, which for someone uninitiated to whisky would not appreciate the hangover the next day. Would we recommend it? in short no. It is a little overpriced, it would really need to be priced around £30. Below that, then it is definitely one to consider, if beer finished whisky is your thing or you want to try more.
For an overall score, Omar gave it 70 out of 100, however, we wouldn't score it that low, or even by meeting him halfway, doing so would score this whisky lower than our current low of Ballantines Finest, this is definitely not that bad. For our overall score, we give Deanston Dragons Milk Stout Finished Single Malt Whisky, 82 out of 100.