The Deveron 12 Year

80 proof. $47.99, $50.63 with tax. Aged in ex bourbon barrels. Tea, honey, nuts, barley, french toast, toasted strawberries, earthy peat, oak, toasted apples, toffee, buttered corn, sugar cookies, pepper, vanilla, caramel. Different.

My last review was for the Singleton 12, which is a Diageo blend-workhorse. Now I’m hopping over to one of my Bacardi’s choice distilleries for Dewars products. So I’m going to treat this review in a similar manner and try to determine how Macduff Distillery can stand on its own merits. Nose: Almond, cashew, and walnut. Sawdust. Malt, toffee, caramel. Unripe banana. Palate: Vanilla, caramel, and toffee. Roasted nuts. Almond, walnut, cashew. Golden raisin. Green grape. Honey. Malt. Fig. Sugar cookie. Finish: Sugar cookie, vanilla, and toffee. More of the walnut, almond, cashew. Caramel. White pepper and oak. Clove and nutmeg. Short finish. Writing notes for the nose was a struggle. Very weak. The palate was fine and the finish was about the same. This is unable to hit its mark at 40% ABV. The flavor is unable to make its presence known. What I am able to detect is very pleasant, but the emphasis here is the subtlety. 2.25/5. Macduff needs to beef this up. But as of right now, I know the primary function of their malt is blending for Dewars. Still, the Singleton 12 proves that what the distillery keeps for itself can be presented with character. And Caol Ila proves it can be done wott to excellence. $48 is way too high for this one. Skip it.