🥃 Whisky Auctioneer

Bottle freshly opened. Let's see how it is in a few weeks. 86-90 – Wow, really good one, needs a bottle

I like it very much. Complex, well-balanced and very delicious and easy to drink. Alcohol-infused fruitcake.

This is another delicious treat, and I like it much better than its predecessor. This toffee fruit cake is truly delicious, and you can tell from the rich flavor in your mouth that it contains really aged ingredients. I could easily have bought another one, but I'm glad I at least have one. The second round confirms its drinkability, and it has now earned 90 points because of its great taste. Delicious!

This 60th-anniversary dram layers old-school cognac and leathery notes over a rich and diverse core of stone fruit. A spicy edge from the younger casks adds energy upfront before giving way to a dense, fudgy, wine-soaked sweetness. Ordered directly from the distillery‘s online shop, the Chronicles 60th Anniversary offers excellent value for money in Europe, especially with free shipping and Deanston’s 10% newsletter rebate.

Few recent whiskies have sparked such diverse reactions in the blogger and vlogger community, with opinions ranging from sheer disappointment to genuine enthusiasm. That controversy is clearly part of its appeal, and after three tasting rounds, I find it a successful Curriculum Vitae release that balances youthful freshness with pretty mature depth, revealing greater complexity and structure as it opens in my trusted Glencairn. NOSE Mint, red berries, light berries, citrus, dried fruits, coffee, chocolate; increasingly spicy. PALATE Mature and malty-sweet; fruity and complex; dark chocolate, cacao nibs, spicy oak. FINISH / VERDICT Long and dark-fruity; honey sweetness, leather, pipe tobacco, heavy spices. This is where things get a bit challenging. The whisky comes close to being oak-dominated, with subtle notes of old damp wood emerging. They never overwhelm the finish, but it doesn’t quite match the high standard set by the nose and palate. Summa summarum: this is a convincing and well-executed anniversary release that successfully integrates casks from very different eras into a coherent whole. While its profile may continue to divide opinion, the balance between youthful vibrancy and mature depth from days long gone-by is impressive, and time and patience only reinforce its strengths. Further notes and reviews on Instagram and Facebook: #maltkanzlei

Tasted against the Chronicles 3 in a blender's glass. Overall, the Anniversary bottling clearly comes out on top and seems significantly more harmonious, as was the case with bottlings 1 and 2.

Tasted from a Glencairn glass. Tasted neat, without water! Initially, it seemed a bit closed, but after about half an hour, it opened up. What bothered me slightly was a certain sour note on the palate and then a touch of bitterness in the finish; otherwise, a lovely dram.

Nose A fruity start. Ripe fruit, accompanied immediately by a musty note that pervades the entire experience. The wood is present and comes across as damp rather than fresh. With some time, wine-like aromas emerge, but they don't quite find a balance. The individual barrel notes seem to exist side by side instead of harmonizing. It remains interesting nonetheless, just not particularly enjoyable. The taste Malty on the palate, accompanied by a pronounced fruit sweetness. Then that musty, slightly stale note reappears. Pepper adds some structure, but can't counteract the very dominant oak. There's also a noticeable acidity, which, together with the wine-like notes, becomes increasingly unbalanced. The sweetness remains present, but doesn't provide any counterbalance. Adding water changes surprisingly little. It doesn't become any smoother or more approachable. The acidic and wine-like notes remain dominant. Conclusion Definitely not worth a bottle, at least not for me, and after this sample, one has to wonder whether seven cask types were really an idea or rather an oversight.

The past 3 editions of Deanton’s Chronicles have been stellar in my opinion, so I had very high hopes when cracking this one open. The initial nose was, therefore, a huge disappointment. Pure red wine and not a lot else. I’m not a big fan of red wine, so this felt like a big letdown after all the initial anticipation. It was only after letting it sit for a good 10-15 minutes that the underlying Deanston spirit emerged…sharing many of the nutty characteristics I associate with the previous releases. Then you get the rest of the cask profiles starting to come through. Hints of old sherry and wood polish, some coconut shavings and pear juice are all in there. This is more like it and what I was hoping for. The palate similarly is dominated by red wine initially, needing some time in the glass and then in the mouth to let anything else through. When that has dissipated you get honey-roasted cashew nuts and dark sherry fruits, as well as a decent lashing of woody notes. The finish is spicy and fruity, with some red wine tannins lingering. I’m torn how to score this as I really don’t like the heavy wine influence, but what is hiding behind is excellent. I have to admit that the initial impression would struggle to get over 80 (!), but then it improves markedly. The wine elements are simply too prominent for me, however, making this my least favourite Chronicles release to date. I guess those that like red wine and port will react rather differently…. Edit: I left the half-full bottle to sit for a couple of months, and the rest period really helped. The dram was much better balanced, with the overbearing port/red wine influences reined in. Much more of the classic old Deanston spirit emerges as a result.

New Chronicles, but the scalpers are the same! Preliminary rating.............. quite a palatable whisky

In terms of taste, I agree with some of the previous speakers - it's really something, especially with plenty of time and air in the glass. Nevertheless, I find the whisky somewhat watery.

First impression. Superb bottling that fits perfectly into the series.

Smooth! Nose is full of wine and virgin oak spices! The taste is... amazing.

Definitely needs time in the glass. Beautiful, complex aroma. Lots of fruit, raspberry, strawberries. Orange, juicy cherries. Grain notes. Noticeable alcohol. At times, I had the feeling there was grain in it. The taste is somewhat less pronounced than the nose would expect. Again, I find the wine very promising at the beginning. Over time, nutty orange chocolate notes emerge, along with a pleasant spiciness from the wood. The finish is medium-long with a slightly bitter tannin note. Nice dram. The nose is really enjoyable. Great value for money. Unfortunately, it doesn't quite reach the level of the first two bottlings for me.

The nose is initially decidedly wine-like – almost exclusively dominated by intense wine notes. However, as time progresses, the whisky develops a remarkable versatility: after about 30 to 45 minutes, increasingly earthy and mineral facets emerge, accompanied by subtle hints of wood. These are followed by yellow fruits, most notably ripe apricots. Overall, the bouquet is extremely complex, multifaceted, and dynamic, with the aromas evolving further with each passing minute in the glass. On the palate, the wine influence remains very present. Strong oak notes, subtle tannins, and a pleasantly integrated acidity give the whisky structure and depth. At the same time, the port cask imparts a distinct sweetness that makes the taste round and full-bodied. The finish is long, sweet, and malty, accompanied by a slightly effervescent mouthfeel resulting from the lively acidity. Here, the influence of the sherry cask also becomes apparent, with nutty nuances and delicate notes of dark chocolate that elegantly round off the aftertaste.

I think it's amazing. Smooth, nicely waxy, deliciously sweet. Fruity, with a pleasant hint of wood in the background. A complete success and perfectly balanced. I'd love to drink the whole bottle right now...