Eidolon Deanston 1999 19 Years Old #2562 Selected by Tsuyoshi Kitakaji

Style: Fruity, Nutty and Malty

Rating: ☆ [Recommended]

Nose:

Begins with a lower but levitating touch of butterscotch while white fruits and floral notes are high on cloud nine. Steady influx of salted caramel carrying more fruits as well as creating a galvanising layer for pecans and almonds to attach to it. Quick acetone brush, kiwis and cream soda hitting the top, a menthol blanket as we descend, with the malt finally released from the spirit.

Palate:

A soothing layer of sunflower oil insulating sumptuous white fruits at the front. The core opens up slowly to some cooked tropical fruits - mangoes, papaya, etc., late-harvest Riesling and plum liqueur. The pendulum then swings back to the side of raw almonds and walnuts. White oak sets in, perhaps some wood smoke as well, wrapping firmly around a sweet, malty core.

Finish:

More walnuts, hints of preserved peaches with the thinnest layer of saw dust. Soft and delicate.

Thoughts:

This is my first time delving deeply into a 99 Deanston, which is a fairly famous vintage for this distillery. I think that is down to a rather charming fruity sweetness at the front which is deftly balanced, cutely wrapped and decorated by the nutty oiliness, making it delicious while maintains a certain degree of complexity. Not sure how other maturing 99s will fare further down the road as it feels the oak is starting to set in. But for now, it is definitely worth having more than a few drams. Recommended.

[55.0% | Independent Bottling | 1999 Distilled | 2019 Bottled | Single Cask | Cask Strength | Cask Number: 2562 | Hogshead | 312 Bottles | *]

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