Deanston 18 years 1994 Cadenhead's Butt - One of 270 - bottled 2012 Authentic Collection (Brown)

Deanston was originally a mill built in 1785 by Richard Arkwright on the border of the Lowlands and Highlands on the banks of the River Teith. After it was bought in 1964 by blender Brodie Hepburn, who also owned Tullibardine and Macduff, the site was converted into a distillery, with production beginning in 1969. Having been bought by Invergordon in 1972, Deanston closed a decade later, in the height of the Whisky Loch. It was bought by Burn Stewart in 1990 and reopened the following year. Although official bottlings of Deanston from the 1970s exist, the brand only really came into its own in the 2000s.

A single cask of Deanston distilled in 1994 and bottled in 2012 as part of the Authentic Collection range. Cadenhead was founded in Aberdeen in 1842 by George Duncan. William Cadenhead then joined the company and, when George Duncan died in 1858, took over and renamed the business after himself. William’s nephew Roberth Duthie developed the company in the early 20th century and it remained a family business until 1969. William Cadenhead Ltd was then sold to the Springbank distillery’s owner J. & A. Mitchell and Co. Hedley G. Wright, a direct descendent of Archibald and John Mitchell, became William Cadenhead Ltd’s CEO. In the past, Cadenhead had mainly sold its own brands, such as Putachieside, The Hielanman, Seven Stars and Green Label rums. Under Hedley G. Wright, the company began to take more of an interest in single malts. This led to the creation of the legendary collection of dumpy bottles in 1977. This series of single malts stood out for its very gentle filtration, lack of artificial colouring, and relatively high bottling strength for the time (80 proof/45.7% ABV). The labels included lots of information, including the month and year of distillation and bottling, and whether or not sherry casks were used. Also in 1977, the business moved to another address in Aberdeen, and finally to Campbeltown. In the 1980s, Cadenhead sold casks to legendary bottlers such as Samaroli and Corti Brothers through the subsidiary Duthie’s. Finally, two new whisky ranges were created in 1991 and 1992, the Original Collection bottled at 46% and the Authentic Collection bottled at cask strength. Other special series to mark Cadenhead’s major anniversaries (150 and 175 years), as well as new ranges launched since (Small Batch, World Whiskies, etc.), have all contributed to the company’s ongoing history up to the present day. A limited edition of 270 bottles.