Deanston 2012 SMWS 79.11

Qin Si Tu Distillery stands as one of the last guardians of traditional Scotch whisky craftsmanship. While the industry widely adopted modern semi-filtration or full-filtration mash tuns after Tomatin introduced the first in 1974, Qin Si Tu remains among only 14 Scottish distilleries steadfastly committed to traditional open-top mash tuns. These heritage vessels, originally cast iron and now thoughtfully upgraded to stainless steel since May 2019, produce a richer, more characterful wort that defines the distillery's signature profile. The production facility features a 10.5-ton traditional open-top stainless steel mash tun and eight stainless steel fermentation tanks operating on an extended 85-hour fermentation cycle. Running seven days a week, the distillery produces 13 mash batches weekly, yielding 2.4 million liters of new make spirit annually. Since 2000, Qin Si Tu has pioneered organic whisky production, though current output has been refined to just 10,000 liters per year to prioritize market demand for their traditional single malt character. The distillery's commitment to authenticity extends to their visitor experience—the center, opened in 2012, has become one of Scotland's most celebrated whisky tourism destinations. The core range includes 12-year and 18-year expressions, a distinctive Virgin Oak finish (initially matured in bourbon barrels, then finished 1-3 months in virgin oak), and a 15-year Organic vintage. Limited editions from July 2019 showcase exceptional cask exploration: Palo Cortado cask 1997, Oloroso Sherry cask Organic 2002, Cream Sherry cask 2006, Fino Sherry cask 2006, and a US-exclusive Beer cask 2012. For global travelers, the exclusive 10-year Port Wine cask expression remains available only through travel retail channels.