There's something brewing down in Fort Worth, and it's got nothing to do with beer. TX Whiskey just dropped the 15th release in their Experimental Series, and this one's got folks talking. They're calling it Vino de Naranja, which translates to orange wine for those who don't speak Spanish, and it represents a departure from the usual bourbon playbook.
The distillery took their five-year straight bourbon rye whiskey and regular bourbon whiskey, then let it sit in Vino de Naranja casks for three years. That's right—three years of just sitting there, soaking up whatever magic those Spanish orange wine barrels had to offer. The result is something that bridges two worlds: Texas grit and Mediterranean winemaking tradition.
According to Craig Blair, the head blender at TX Whiskey, this release captures exactly what they're trying to accomplish with their experimental lineup. "Vino de Naranja embodies everything we aim to capture in a unique Experimental Series," Blair explained. "This blend honors Mediterranean winemaking traditions while telling a Texan story of endurance and the uncompromising character of our land in every sip."
The flavor profile reads like a dessert menu. Right off the bat, there's rich orange marmalade and cherry cordial hitting the nose, with some smoke lurking in the background. Then comes the spiced honey and toasted vanilla, which apparently opens up into what they describe as a creamy soda sweetness. The Spanish orange wine influence shows up in the finish—jammy and long-lasting, supposedly reminiscent of watching the sun go down over the Texas plains.
This isn't just about throwing different ingredients together and seeing what sticks. TX Whiskey says the expression reflects their commitment to craftsmanship, terroir, and maturation. They're drawing inspiration from Texas ranchers who've dealt with harsh conditions for generations and the state's climate, which can be brutal enough to age whiskey faster than cooler regions.
The whiskey works on the rocks or mixed into a summer cocktail, making it versatile for different occasions. Whether it's sipped neat on a back porch or incorporated into something more elaborate, the distillery says every bottle carries that Texas identity they're known for.
Here's the catch—there are only 1,500 bottles available. Each one is a 375ml bottle, smaller than the standard 750ml size most whiskey comes in. They're priced at $39.99, which puts them in the reasonable range for a limited experimental release. But there's a purchase limit: eight bottles per customer within any 30-day period.
The only place to get it is at Whiskey Ranch, the distillery's home base located at 2601 Whiskey Ranch Road in Fort Worth. The bottles hit the shelves on Saturday, February 7th, and given the limited quantity, they're not likely to stick around long.
TX Whiskey has built a reputation for pushing boundaries with their Experimental Series. Each release explores different finishing techniques, cask types, or aging methods that wouldn't necessarily make it into their core lineup. Some experiments work better than others, but that's the point—trying new things and seeing where the whiskey takes them.
The use of Vino de Naranja casks is particularly interesting. Orange wine isn't actually made from oranges. It's white wine that's been made more like red wine, with the grape skins left in contact with the juice during fermentation. This gives it a distinctive orange color and adds tannins and complexity that regular white wine doesn't have. When those casks are used for whiskey finishing, they can impart fruity, oxidative, and tannic qualities that create something entirely different from standard bourbon.
Spanish Vino de Naranja has its own history, dating back centuries in Mediterranean regions where winemakers developed techniques to preserve and enhance their wines. By connecting that tradition with Texas bourbon-making, TX Whiskey is creating a conversation between old-world methods and new-world innovation.
The three-year finishing period is notable. Many finished whiskeys spend just months in secondary casks, but three years is substantial time for the spirit to interact with the wood and residual wine flavors. That extended contact period suggests the Vino de Naranja influence isn't just a subtle accent—it's woven into the whiskey's character.
For collectors and enthusiasts who follow the Experimental Series, this marks another chapter in TX Whiskey's ongoing exploration of what bourbon can be. Previous releases have experimented with everything from port casks to unique grain bills, each one offering a snapshot of what happens when traditional whiskey-making meets creative risk-taking.
The timing of the release—early February—positions it as either a late winter warmer or an early spring sipper, depending on how the Texas weather is feeling that week. The suggestion that it works in summer cocktails hints at citrus-forward mixed drinks that could showcase the orange wine influence.
Fort Worth has become something of a destination for whiskey fans in recent years, with TX Whiskey's Whiskey Ranch serving as a focal point. The facility offers tours, tastings, and a chance to see where the whiskey is made. For the Vino de Naranja release, expect folks to make the trip specifically for a chance to grab a bottle or two before they're gone.
The eight-bottle purchase limit is generous compared to some limited releases, which often restrict buyers to one or two bottles. It suggests the distillery wants enthusiasts to be able to stock up, whether for personal enjoyment or to share with friends who can't make the trip.
At under $40 for a 375ml bottle, the price point makes it accessible without being cheap. That's important for a product that's positioned as experimental but not necessarily premium. It's special because of the unique finishing process and limited availability, not because it's aged for decades or comes in fancy packaging.
The story TX Whiskey is telling with this release goes beyond just flavor notes. It's about connection—between cultures, between traditions, and between the past and present. Spanish winemakers probably never imagined their orange wine casks would end up in a Texas distillery, and Texas ranchers definitely didn't envision their spirit of endurance being captured in a bottle finished in Mediterranean wine barrels.
But that's exactly what makes the Experimental Series interesting. It takes chances that core products can't take, explores ideas that might not work, and occasionally produces something that captures lightning in a bottle—or in this case, orange wine influence in bourbon.
For those keeping track, this is the 15th expression in the series, which means TX Whiskey has been at this experimental game for a while. Each release builds on lessons learned from previous ones, creating an ongoing education in what's possible when traditional boundaries are treated as suggestions rather than rules.
Whether Vino de Naranja becomes a memorable standout or just another interesting footnote in the series remains to be seen. That's something that can only be determined by tasting it, discussing it, and seeing how it holds up over time. But for now, it represents TX Whiskey's willingness to keep pushing, keep experimenting, and keep telling Texas stories through unexpected means.
The February 7th release date gives enthusiasts a specific target, and the single-location availability means planning is required. For anyone interested in securing bottles, showing up early to Whiskey Ranch that Saturday morning is probably a smart move. With only 1,500 bottles to go around and a growing following for the Experimental Series, waiting until later in the day might mean going home empty-handed.
Additional information is available at txwhiskey.com for those wanting to learn more about the distillery, their products, or the story behind this particular release. But the real story will be told by the folks who manage to get their hands on a bottle and crack it open to see if all that Mediterranean-meets-Texas talk translates into something worth drinking.
