Tasting an experiment: The Deanston Orange Wine cask
When I started out in my whisky passion, I never could have predicted the incredible growth Deanston single malt eventually would go through. Checking the numbers in the Malt Whisky Yearbook 2026, we read about a 100 % increase in sales in just four years. Today, we might taste a new champion of this distillery not far from Stirling in the Southern Highlands.
Deanston 17 years old, Limited Edition Orange Wine, bottled at 53,6 % abv
First things first: Deanston that was matured in bourbon casks and then finished in Orange Wine casks, also known as Vino de Naranja. Limited Edition of 7.000 bottles. From the Deanston website: “Matured for 15 years in ex-bourbon casks, our waxy Deanston spirit was then finished in Vino de Naranja casks – a fortified wine with a long tradition in the Spanish region of Andalucía, made by infusing wine with dried orange peel.”
Upon Sipping: Here we go, while we enjoy the orange-golden colour on this Deanston Orange Wine cask expression. The whisky opens on duality, as we get a whiff of traditional whisky aroma first, vanilla and oak spices, before the distinct signature of freshly squeezed orange juice hits the nostrils. So far, so good, delivering on the promise of the label on this Deanston, right? It is subtle and the oak character remains the dominant character. You can really pick up more and more orange peel while the whisky breathes in the glass. I like it.
The taste arrives very oily, waxy and sticky on the palate, with a dry mouthfeel eventually, but then it moves on to soft spices, dripping honey in camomile tea and the inevitable orange attack. But it remains full of flavour and picks up on Ice Tea notes towards the finish. There is a hint of orange zest and spices, for sure, but it never outstays its welcome. You can always fall back on the backbone of 15 years in bourbon wood. The fortified wine is not far away from a luscious PX, with the added charm of oranges. With water, it turns a bit bitter and nutty, which I like less.
I would drink this one neat. It reminds me of Spanish Naranja indeed, this soda we used to drink on holiday to Spain as an alternative to Fanta. I loved tasting this sample!
Word to the Wise: I believe creating this bottling from mature stock gave this Deanston Orange Cask exactly the podium on which to perform. I do not think it would be wise to use these casks on young whisky, you need some backbone. In this expression, it feels balanced and harmonious. This is a nice experiment I would not mind seeing it executed by other producers as well.
Score: 88 points.