The Scotch Whisky Association states, “Scotch Whisky can only be matured or finished in new oak casks or oak casks which were previously used to mature wine, beer/ale or spirits.” There are a few other caveats, but the consensus is:
Yes, you can mature whisky in a wine cask.
Should You Mature Whisky In An Ex-Wine Cask?
Whether you like a whisky matured or finished in a wine cask will be down to personal preference and the type of whisky. Some whisky drinkers enjoy peated whisky and some prefer their scotch unpeated, some like bourbon finishes and other prefer sherry, wine is just another option creating different notes in the final whisky. Just as importantly, some people like a certain finish on one type of whisky but not another, wine cask are no different.
As well as personal preference wine casks are not suited to all types of whisky. Online reviewers whiskynotes.be reviewed two whiskies finished in red wine casks: an Aran 2013 3-year-old and a Port Charlotte 2008 10-year-old. On the Arran they said, “Some casks simply don’t work too well with whisky in my opinion – it’s easy to drown Arran spirit with red wine.” Whereas the Port Charlotte was more successful, “This is much more like it. If you insist on using red wine casks, then choose a powerful spirit.”
Send Me The 2026 Cask Buying Guide
Our Cask Buying Guide was the first independent guide written for private buyers and remains the most comprehensive available. No sales pitch or inflated promises, just clear, practical guidance on ownership, pricing, risks and what to check before you buy
"*" indicates required fields
As you can see, it is important to consider the source of your whisky when deciding what cask to use. Maturing whisky in wine casks is still less established than spirits such as bourbon, sherry, rum and port. Some distilleries are using wine casks successfully. But it’s important to realise that they do rigorous testing in small batches to establish what works – and what their drinkers are interested in.
Another thing to consider is when you last saw a bottle of wine matured whisky? This is still a niche product with a niche audience and it isn’t widely available outside of specialised whisky shops and bars because the audience is not established yet. If you’re looking at a cask as a personal investment, your choice of cask type may impact your future exit options.
Send me my free cask buying guide
Will an ex-Mouton Rothchild cask make my whisky worth more?
If you are looking at buying a cask of whisky and are considering maturing your spirit in an ex-wine cask you need to be aware of a few things.
The name of a vinyard is a trademark – which means you can’t use the name of the Chateau (Mouton Rothchild, Margaux or d’Y Quem etc.) to market your whisky without the trademark owner’s permissions. You may see some distilleries release whiskies with Chateaus specified, but the distilleries have much more market power than you in order to negotiate the use of the Chateau’s name.
Ultimately, what this means that using a cask from a specific vineyard will not add any value to your whisky compared to a standard wine cask unless you have the rights to use the corresponding name. Given that a cask from a specific Chateau likely comes at a premium, you should consider whether using that cask adds value to your whisky in a way you are satisfied with.
Need advice about buying or selling whisky?
Whether you have a whisky cask, a bottle collection or are considering a purchase, tell us a little about what you need. We provide clear, independent guidance and will explain the options available.
"*" indicates required fields
Ex-wine casks are not currently as commercial as bourbon or sherry casks – Maturing whisky in wine casks is still a process that is being refined and developed. The market for it is still in its infancy compared to other cask finishes. While it may expand with time, the current market generally values ex-sherry and ex-bourbon casks much more highly – there are a few exceptions for specific distilleries, discussed below. Therefore, if you looking to buy a whisky cask as an investment then the risks associated with wine casks are higher than if you invest in a more traditional cask.
Some distilleries have a more established history of working with wine casks – Distilleries such as Bruichladdich and Glenmorangie have an established history of working with wine casks. Any distilleries with a proven history of working well with wine casks can command a competitive market value, and so if you want to work with a wine cask you should consider working with spirit that has already proven successful.