Sovereign Brands stepped into the wonderous world of whisky with a bottle named
The Deacon. With its spicy and approachable character, The Deacon is poised to be the most unconventional whisky so far. In this The Deacon Review, you'll find out if the beverage lives up to its name!
This article was previously published on our Dutch
website.
Sovereign Brands has a whole range of beverages to its name by now. Besides Luc Belaire sparkling wine, Bumbu rum, Villon Cognac and more, there was still room for a whisky. One that should be, like the brand's other beverages, a work of art in itself.
More importantly, the whisky should stir the world it enters. It's no wonder the drink is announced as the most unconventional whisky so far. The beverage shouldn't compete with the rest, but innovate. Brett Berish, CEO and co-founder of Sovereign Brands said about The Deacon that the brand is going to disrupt the whisky category. It should be an incredibly affordable whisky with a premium taste. One that is balanced, complex, but has a drinkable flavor profile.
See, smell, taste
Country | Scotland |
Distillery | Sovereign Brands |
Whisky type | Blended |
Colour | Light amber |
Nose | Orange, sweet biscuits and woody peat |
Palate | Complex flavors of spices, orange smoky with hints of smoked wood |
Finish | Medium-length and notably smooth. Notes of orange and peat |
Age | No age indication |
Alcohol percentage | 40 percent |
Bottle content | 70 centiliters |
Price | approximately 40 euros |
A Unique Sight
The Deacon disrupts the market at least with its appearance. The bottle is one that will stand out from any other on a store shelf. Though The Deacon whisky only carries a 40 euros price tag, it looks like a premium whisky.
The copper-colored bottle is a nod to the traditional copper stills used for The Deacon. Additionally, The Deacon's bottle has an embossed design to give it an extra touch of luxury. On the label, The Deacon himself is prominently displayed. A figure with a hat, glasses, and a bird mask, reminiscent of the plague doctors of yore. The figure doesn't represent a plague doctor, but a craftsman – a meaning that fits better with the bottle.
With its striking and stylish design, The Deacon is one to absolutely not toss out after a bottle kill, but rather one you would want to keep on display. But what about what's inside?
Spicy or Sweet?
The Deacon not only stirs the market with the bottle. For this
blended whisky, whisky from Islay and Speyside was used. A combination that is quite common, but not often as in
The Deacon. The Speyside malts The Deacon got are smoky and result in a nose of burnt orange and wooden smoke. The Islay malts, on the other hand, contribute a peaty taste and add complexity to the whisky.
As you bring your glass to your nose, you'll notice the smoky element, but also that it's a complex spirit. Smoke, peat, and orange introduce themselves, along with a sweet scent. Take a sip and you'll find that while The Deacon is smoky and 'peaty', it doesn't burn your mouth. You'll experience an array of spices mixed with the earlier mentioned elements and a taste of sweet cookies. The Deacon then transitions to an aftertaste noticeable in your throat due to the smoke and peat, but it doesn't linger long.
Conclusion: The Deacon Review
With
The Deacon, Sovereign Brands hasn't told an untruth. The whisky is complex, smoky, and layered. Besides the premium appearance of the bottle, the whisky is surprising both in the nose and on the palate. Thus, it is a blended whisky that is affordable, and thanks to its approachable and gentle character, can form an ideal introduction to smoky whiskies.
+ Incredibly beautiful bottle
+ Smoky, but still smooth
+Delightfully complex whisky
- The finish could have been longer
This review is based on a sample. We approach the reviews of samples less extensively than for a full bottle, as this gives a different experience. Check our reviews page to see what else we have reviewed.