Deanston 2009 Aged 12 Years Single Malt Scotch Whisky – Infrequent Flyers #72 (700ml)

Cask Number: 6346
Date of Distilling: 2009
Matured In: a single Sauternes Wine Hogshead
Un-Chillfiltered

Independent bottlers, have been around for a many years. They source whiskies from different distilleries throughout Scotland and around the world, and using their experience bottle them as single casks. These whiskies are then presented in their most natural form which includes no chill filtering, bottling at natural colour, and more options at cask strength.

Established in 2008 The Alistair Walker Company is based in Grangemouth in Central Scotland. Alistair has almost 20 years experience in the whisky industry and is not affiliated to any one distillery. Alistair’s career in the whisky industry began in January 1997, at Burn Stewart Distillers in a sales and marketing role for over six years. At that time Burn Stewart was the custodian of two single malt distilleries – Deanston and Tobermory. In October 2004, he joined The BenRiach Distillery Company, and remained with them for over twelve years, until the business was eventually sold. This was a new-start business, that had been set up in 2004 following the acquisition, by three entrepreneurs, of the BenRiach Distillery from Pernod Ricard. In addition to BenRiach, Alistair also had the good fortune to work with the GlenDronach and Glenglassaugh Distilleries, with BenRiach having acquired GlenDronach in 2008, and then Glenglassaugh in 2013. In 2018, Alistair found himself on hiatus, and contemplating what to do next.

Keen to be his own boss and also wishing to remain in the whisky sector, he decided to venture into the exciting world of independent bottling. Making the move from distillery to independent bottler is very much a case of ‘gamekeeper turned poacher’. Fortunately, independent bottling is a vibrant category at present; as more and more whisky enthusiasts are seeking out single cask bottlings and whisky releases that are a little different, somewhat unique, and often from less familiar distilleries.

The whiskies the are bottled under the brand name ‘Infrequent Flyers’. That name refers to the nature of many of the casks that are bottled – often whiskies from lesser-known distilleries that are of excellent quality, but have never been widely or consistently available. As such, many of the bottlings are of whiskies that you just don’t see so often – hence the name ‘Infrequent Flyers’.

The Deanston Distillery is located on the banks of the River Teith, eight miles from the town of Stirling. It is the largest distillery owned by Burn Stewart Distillers Ltd, who also own Bunnahabhain Distillery and Tobermory distillery. Deanston Distillery was traditionally a working mill but was transformed into a distillery in 1966. The constant supply of pure water from the River Teith contributed to the decision to turn the mill into a distillery and Deanston is now one of only a handful of distilleries in Scotland to be self-sufficient in electricity, with power generated by an onsite hydro-electroc facility. Deanston sits in the Highland single malt region of Scotland and produces whisky which is handmade by ten local craftsmen.

This single cask single malt whisky was distilled at the Deanston Distillery before being placed in a ex-Sauternes Wine Hogshead barrel in 2009 and left to mature for 12 years. Bottled at 57.9% abv and marks bottling number 72 of the Infrequent Flyers series.

Only 277 bottles were produced for worldwide distribution.

Our Tasting Notes

Nose: Apricot danish and toasted fruit bread, milk chocolate and orange oil, dark toffee and toasted oak.

Palate: Rich malty notes, bold sultanas and raisins with creamy vanilla milk chocolate, butterscotch and toasted nuts.

Finish: Long with apricots and mixed spice and sticky date pudding sauce.