Glen Deveron (aka Macduff - the name seems to vacillate back and forth) is a distillery I have never encountered before. Currently owned by Bacardi, it was used for years in the William Lawsons Blend, and apparently 90% of their production is used in blends like Dewar's.
This is a single cask release from the Scotch Malt Whisky Society ("SMWS"), part of their Juicy, Oak & Vanilla flavor profile. It's cask 6.44, nicknamed "Summer Garden Adventures" - aged 11 years in second fill bourbon barrels, and bottled at a healthy 56.8%. I have no reference points for Glen Deveron, but here are the official tasting notes:
The nose led us through summer gardens and orchards – apple, peach and pear, tinned fruit salad, Turkish delight, honey and vanilla – merest hints of ginger and wasabi. The palate delivered more definite spice (but still gentle and refined) – ginger, clove, cinnamon and chilli; otherwise tinned mandarins, cherries and peaches (in syrup), runny honey and custard trifle. The reduced nose picked up cola cubes, pineapple chunks, rhubarb and some herbs (mint, bramble bushes, bouquet garni). The palate still had a lively mixture of watermelon, gooseberry, and white currant with caramel and vanilla fudge sweetness and a finish of dry oak and warm spice.
It sounds like a good time - fruit, honey, a little spice. Let's dig in:
Nose: Green apple and honey, off the top. Ginger, too. I don't know about wasabi, but something spicy is present. Simple, but pleasant. The green apple reads almost as a sour scent. Some spiced pear.
With water, there is a decided "cola" aspect here, and some tropical fruit - coconut and pineapple and lychee, along with the previously mentioned green apple, ginger, honey, and spice. Rich with fruit.
Mouthfeel: Medium, right in the middle of the road.
Palate: Bolder than you would think! This has some body to it. Spices come first and foremost - cinnamon, cloves, allspice, chili powder. Then, peach and pear, with drops of honey everywhere. I can see the "custard trifle" flavor from the official note - there is a bright vanilla sweetness here. I don't get any mint or bramble, though.
With a little water, this opens up a bit. Same spices, but the fruit becomes melon, watermelon, berries, and an oak note emerges. Better with water, I think, but it's close. Very rich, bold whisky. A dram with real character.
Finish: Not much wood influence to speak of, but the pear and apple and honey and pepper notes all fade gently into a short/medium finish.
Verdict: Well, if this is how Glen Deveron/Macduff presents itself, then I'm a fan. This is very solid stuff. Nestled right on the Highland/Speyside line, this is, indeed, juicy, oaky, and with some vanilla overtones. The juicy aspect is the strongest - berries, honey, apples, pears, all are bold and rich. It's sweet without being cloying. It's spicy without drying out the mouth. It's powerful too - the cask strength really does it some big favors here. It's both young at 11 years, but also somewhat mature. Worth exploring.
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