Looking at the blog, I realised last week that I have been trying a mixture of blended malts, such as Black Bottle, as well as Islay and Highland drams. This is not about to change, as a friend invited me for drinks and we tried the Glen Deveron 20 year old Highland single malt Scotch whisky. The release is part of the Royal Burgh of Banff Collection Charter of Robert II, King of Scotland.
I also have a bottle that I picked up in Duty-Free a couple of years ago. There is no Glen Deveron distillery. The Deveron and Glen Deveron whisky brands are both created at Macduff Distillery. The brand team named the whisky after the River Deveron, which runs alongside the distillery.
The Macduff Distillery was founded in 1960 and is situated near Banff on the Northeast coast of Scotland. William Lawson Distillers Ltd. acquired the distillery in 1972, and it became part of the Martini & Rossi brands in 1980.
In 1992, it was acquired by Bacardi Corporation. Bacardi still owns the distillery and is part of its John Dewar & Sons subsidiary.
The first bottling of the brand was released towards the end of 2015. I have seen a Glen Deveron 16 year old whisky on Amazon as well as a 28 year old release. Today, if you look at the website, it only references a 10 year old release. The release is branded as “The Deveron”.
The Glen Deveron 20 year old whisky was aged in sherry oak casks.
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Glen Deveron 20 year old Single Malt Review
REGION: Highland
ABV 40 %
COLOUR: Deep gold
NOSE: Warm and inviting. Mango, apricot, and toasted cereal blend with vanilla, oak, and a hint of black pepper. A browned‑butter richness rides beneath a subtle green, pine‑needle freshness. The Glen Deveron has a lovely, elegant nose, yet the expected sherry punch stays surprisingly quiet.
PALATE: Medium‑bodied. Think tropical fruit salad—mango, pineapple, coconut cream—drizzled with maple syrup and framed by shortbread crumbs. Cinnamon, clove, and nutty oiliness surface next. Hints of oak, black pepper and pickled ginger. The green note from the nose is more pronounced and reminds me of freshly cut grass. I am still not getting any sherry notes. The woody notes are also very subtle, and I expected more woody spices after 20 years.
FINISH: Medium length, finishing with sweet fruit, vanilla, and soft pepper.
RATING: VERY GOOD
The Glen Deveron 20 year old single malt Scotch whisky is a lovely dram. Well-balanced, elegant, and refined, with all the sweet notes that my palate loves. Enough spice to add depth and complexity to the palate. The sherry notes that I was expecting, however, were absent. After 20 years on sherry casks, I had expected a bit more red fruit, sultanas, and sherry influence.
If your palate leans toward rich fruit, subtle spice, and a smooth, refined drink, this bottle hits the sweet spot. I have spotted this release in Duty Free and you can find it on Amazon.
- Buy it if you dig approachable Highland malts with tropical flair.
- Skip it if you’re hunting for cask‑strength bruisers or sherry bombs.
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