Number 5 in the countdown to 300, and another two years of age to the dram in tonights glass. I know nothing of Deanston and have not sampled their wares before. This liquid was distilled in 1991, matured first in ex-Bourbon then finished in ex-Muscat for two years. I suspected Muscat on last nights Bladnoch Talia 26 was like a smack in the face from a bowl of potpourri. Let’s see how Deanston measures up on the florals. N: Yep, floral. This is a gentle nose but with plenty going on. Bright and juicy with both stone fruit, dark berries, and dried fruits. The sweetness carries well with toffee and vanilla. The florals are, unsurprisingly king here though; fresh blossoms interlace with orange spritz and a tropical tang. Vaguely malty and oaky at the back. P: Sweet and winey out the gate. A oiliness creeps through what is otherwise an almost cloying texture. Surprisingly tannic and spicy with a dominant old oak spice and hints of sweet cinnamon. The palate becomes waxier over time and honied. A dusting of cocoa here, a spattering of blackcurrant there, and through it all puffs of orange and perfume. F: Medium. Creamy fading to sticky and sweet. Sultanas, some shortcrust pastry, leather and more oak. Huh. I didn’t know what to expect here, but it wasn’t this. Curious, if it wasn’t for the waxy oak I would have suspected a 15 year old, maybe, certainly not 28. The malt that is trying to escape from the thick and weighty muscat finish would be so good if it could shine through a little brighter, there is not enough savoury here to balance the torrent of sticky sweetness. The nose is definitely the best part of this dram. The florals on the nose are inexorable, but they remain gentle and bring a lovely brightness. The palate is a bit of a disappointment it lacks the depth of the nose and the finish hints at what should be; instead though heavy finishing has stopped the palate from shining. Distiller whisky taste #296 [Pictured here with a lovely Eclogite from Monte Torretta in Piémont, NW Italy. This wonderful lump is yet another piece of the deep underbelly of our planets crust, and represents the highest pressures of metamorphism now thrust up onto the surface. This rock used to be a gabbro and is now a mix of red garnets, green omphacite, rare blue glaucophane, and retrograde flaky micas]