I first wrote about this whisky here back in September.
Deerstalker, 18 year old, 46%, $100
From the Balmenach distillery. (The previous bottling of this whisky was from a sherry cask. This one is from a bourbon cask, so take note of this.) Mouth-coating in texture. Ripe barley and malty up front, ultimately transitioning to a clinging dryness towards the finish. Notes of vanilla cream, toasted coconut, marshmallow, cut grass, honeydew melon and lemon/lime. A pleasant, textural whisky. (Bottling at 46% and not chill-filtered enhances this.) My question: why sherry cask OR bourbon cask? I think a marriage both types of casks would add more dimension and complexity.
Advanced Malt Advocate magazine rating: 83
I for one am perfectly happy to see straight bourbon-casked whisky. There seems to be so much emphasis on peat and sherry these days, they’re hard to escape–bourbon-matured seems to be regarded as “plain vanilla”. There are some of us out here who like our whisky to taste like whisky.
Who’s the bottler here? Why “Deerstalker” and not Balmenach?
Interesting. I have had some truly great Balmenachs – one of many under appreciated malts. I look forward to trying the new Deerstalker.
MrTH: Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE bourbon-casked whisky. In fact, if I am disappointed with a a cask selection, it’s usually because it’s over-sherried (or over-ported). Sometimes though, with bourbon cask aging, the whisky can get a little dry on the palate with a lot of oak influence.
I like this whisky, but think it could have been improved with a tad bit of sherry cask balmenach thrown in the mix, because it did come across a little dry on the finish. Often, some of the best whiskies combine more than one type of cask.
Bill, yes, Balmenach is underappreciated.
Mr TH, the Deerstalker brand is owned by a Glasgow company called Aberko –
http://www.aberko.com/
Thanks Iain, for responding!
I went into this bottle not expecting much. After the first drink I was pleasantly suprised. Its not like any scotch I’d had in the past but was equally as good as any.
Sounds interesting. I’ve had a very nice Balmenach from Cadenhead’s. I’d certainly give this consideration if I happened to see it. I have to say, though, I find myself thinking, “$100 for an 83 whisky….” The double-edged sword of scoring! I really don’t want to think like that, but it’s hard to avoid.
Mr TH, it sounds like you like the Balmenach style. Assuming your Cadenhead’s was also from a bourbon cask, then I would think that maybe you will like this whisky too, regardless of my rating.