Burn Stewart Releases Two New Single Malts

By Richard Thomas

Scotch company Burn Stewart Distillers announced today the introduction of two new single malts, Deanston 18 Year Old and Ledaig 18 Year Old, both permanent, regular additions to the range for each of their respective brands.

Both new whiskies have been crafted by Burn Stewart Master Blender, Ian MacMillan. Like all of the malts in the Burn Stewart portfolio, Deanston 18 Year Old and Ledaig 18 Year Old are not chill-filtered, helping ensure that more of the whisky’s natural aroma, flavor and texture remain in the bottle.

Alison Gibb, Global Marketing Manager for Burn Stewart Malts, said: “It’s an exciting time in the Scotch whisky market. The new Deanston and Ledaig expressions demonstrate our continued commitment to grow the Burn Stewart malts portfolio and to offer our consumers more choice.

“We are passionate about tradition and craftsmanship, and both of these 18 Year Olds embody the painstaking care and attention to detail that goes into every drop.”

Deanston 18 Year Old

Deanston 18 Year Old is a Highland whisky aged primiarily in hogshead casks, before finishing in first-fill Kentucky bourbon casks. Maturation was in the vaulted warehouse at Deanston, a former cotton mill with meter-thick walls that was converted to a whisky warehouse in 1966. This single malt is bottled at 46.3% abv and will retail for £80.

Official tasting notes:

Color:  Lemon Gold

Nose:   Quite aromatic with balanced American oak notes. Floral, malty, grassy, vanilla and honey with hints of tobacco and nutmeg

Palate:  Sweet and spicy, citrus, barley sugar, gingerbread, manuka honey and white pepper flavours.

Finish:  Dry and spicy with a warming gingery honeyed tail.

Ledaig 18 Year Old

Ledaig single malts are a product of the Tobermory Distillery, located on the Isle of Mull and making it an Islands whisky. This single malt was also bottled at 46.3% abv and will retail for a slightly higher £85.

The two expressions are available in the UK and in select markets in Europe, North America and Asia.

Official tasting notes:

Color:  Copper Gold

Nose:  Rich, fruity sherried smokiness ,lovely balance of phenols, seaweed and light creosote, dried chilli flakes, spicy black pepper with hints of sweet oakiness.

Palate:  Powerful rich, sherried, herbal smoky flavors, orange peel, coffee, a touch of sea salt, tobacco and white pepper.

Finish:  Long and quite pungent with more smoke, a hint of liquorice and sea spray.