Deanston Organic American Oak 20 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky 2002
Deanston Organic American Oak 20 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky 2002 is a 99.4-proof (49.7% ABV), 700mL Highland single malt — distilled in 2002 from certified-organic Scottish barley, matured a full 20 years in re-charred organic American oak casks, and bottled at cask strength, non-chill filtered, with natural colour. Just 2,826 bottles were produced. It is available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
Deanston works out of a converted 1785 cotton mill on the River Teith near Stirling — the only distillery in Scotland self-sufficient in electricity, powered by its own hydro turbine — and it has been certified by the Organic Food Federation since April 2000, the world's first certified organic Scotch distillery. This 2002 vintage is organic from grain to glass: pesticide-free barley, an organic maltings, and casks re-charred so they stay organic-certified while releasing higher extractives into the spirit. The result is one of the oldest organic Scotch whiskies anywhere, carrying Deanston's signature waxy citrus at full cask strength. Retailers cite a Gold medal at the International Wine & Spirits Competition 2024.
Tasting profile: deep gold; sweet vanilla and caramel with cedar, wood spice, and ripe fruit on the nose; a rich yet dry palate of honey spice, stone fruits, toasted oak, and freshly cut grass; a lingering finish of desiccated coconut and a touch of cocoa. Browse the Deanston brand collection, more Scotch whisky, and the full spirits collection.
Serving note: neat, then a few drops of water to lift the stone fruit out of the cask strength.
What makes this Deanston "organic"? Everything: certified-organic barley and maltings, and maturation in re-charred organic American oak, from a distillery certified organic since 2000.
How many bottles were made? 2,826 bottles of this 2002 vintage 20-year-old.
Is it chill filtered or coloured? Neither — it is bottled at cask strength, non-chill filtered, with natural colour.
What is the ABV? 49.7% ABV (99.4 proof), 700mL.