I was looking for something new to celebrate Burns Night last Thursday and I picked this bottle. Deanston is a relatively new highland distillery that only opened in 1965 in an old cotton mill that dates back to 1785 on the river Teith. This whisky is bottled at 46.3% ABV and is non-chill filtered, “as it should be”, according to the label. Not sure about coloration; it seems a bit dark to me. It is aged in bourbon barrels, is a nice golden amber in the glass and produces plentiful legs when swirled. The nose screams “this is Scotch!” to me: floral and fruity, with hints of salt and smoke. Not Islay peat smoke, but charred oak smoke. Apples, pears, and citrus with vanilla, caramel, and oak notes from the bourbon barrels. Really nice. The palate is a little hot at first but quickly turns sweet and spicy: honey and vanilla with cinnamon and nutmeg. There is a malty component that brings a thick mouthfeel. The finish is medium, malty, rich, and warm. This is pretty easy drinking and would be a good choice or someone new to Scotch coming from bourbon. I really like this dram. I found it for $55 locally and see that it runs $65-70 online. $55 is a good deal for this bottle. Solid 4.0/5. Cheers!