Deanston Dragon’s Milk Stout Cask Finish
Deanston Dragon's Milk Stout Cask Finish is a 50.5% ABV (101-proof) Highland single malt Scotch whisky finished in casks that previously held Dragon's Milk — the bourbon barrel-aged stout from New Holland Brewing Company in Michigan. Distilled in 2012 and matured in re-charred whisky casks before around six months in the ex-stout barrels, it is a transatlantic collaboration and a limited-edition release from Deanston Distillery in Doune, Perthshire, on the banks of the River Teith. Order online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
- ABV/Proof: 50.5% ABV / 101 proof
- Size: 750mL
- Age: No age statement (distilled 2012)
- Origin: Deanston Distillery, Doune, Perthshire, Scotland — Southern Highlands, on the River Teith
- Production: Unpeated, locally sourced Highland barley; matured in re-charred whisky casks, finished ~6 months in ex-Dragon's Milk stout barrels (New Holland Brewing Co., Michigan); limited edition
When Stout Barrels Meet Single Malt
Deanston has always done things its own way — the distillery has run since 1966 inside a converted 1785 cotton mill, powers itself with an on-site hydro turbine, and distills unpeated Highland barley. For this release it looked across the Atlantic: casks that held New Holland's Dragon's Milk, itself a bourbon barrel-aged stout, came back to Scotland for a finishing stint. The official line calls it a "golden hoppy single malt full of fruit and caramel notes," and Deanston's own tasting notes run: fresh-cut grass, floral, malty, red apple on the nose; quite sweet and spicy on the palate with white pepper and chilli; lemon, white pepper, and sugary sweetness on the finish. Retailers add the stout-cask signature: chocolate, roasted malt, bitter cacao, candied orange, burnt sugar, and nutty oak. Browse whisky and the Deanston Distillery range.
Tasting Notes
Nose: fresh-cut grass, floral, malty, red apple. Palate: quite sweet and spicy — white pepper, chilli, chocolate, roasted malt. Finish: lemon, white pepper, and sugary sweetness with nutty oak.
How to Enjoy
Neat with a drop or two of water to open the spice. The stout-cask richness makes it a natural after-dinner pour — pair it with dark chocolate if you want the full effect.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Dragon's Milk?
A bourbon barrel-aged stout from New Holland Brewing Company in Michigan — the whisky was finished in casks that previously held it.
What is the ABV?
50.5% ABV (101 proof) — all sources agree.
How old is it?
There is no age statement; it was distilled in 2012.
Is it peated?
No — Deanston distills unpeated, locally sourced Highland barley.
Stout-cask Highland malt at full flavor — buy Deanston Dragon's Milk Stout Cask Finish online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.