How Do Barrels Have an effect on the Style of Whiskey?

A standard chorus within the spirits world is that whiskey will get 70–80% % of its taste from the barrel it’s aged in. Although practically unattainable to show the precise determine, one factor is definite: barrel maturation is an integral a part of whiskey manufacturing. 

Barrel growing older is what offers whiskey its colour and the caramel, vanilla, and spice notes that the spirit is usually identified for. 

Whiskey producers use quite a lot of barrels, most of which have been beforehand used to mature different spirits, wines, and typically even beer. Each sort of barrel imparts completely different aromas and flavors to the whiskey.

The whole lot a few barrel will affect the whiskey that’s aged inside it. What it was beforehand full of, the standard of the oak, and the diploma of char all contribute to the whiskey’s taste. 

Used barrels typically keep traces of the unique liquid that has soaked into its wooden. When one other spirit is aged in that barrel, it interacts with the wooden and extracts a few of the flavors and aromas trapped deep inside the barrel’s staves. 

“Used casks are improbable for whiskey makers in a number of methods. If the goal is to provide a whiskey with muted wooden notes then used casks are important, plus there’s the additional advantage of selecting up some affect of what was beforehand in it,” says Miles Munroe, grasp blender at Portland, Oregon’s Westward Whiskey. 

This is applicable to all method of whiskey, from rye and bourbon to extra extremely regulated types like Scotch whisky, which use barrel finishes to impart flavors in a means that doesn’t violate strict manufacturing codes.

“Barrels which have beforehand held liquid will add a myriad of various flavors to the spirit,” says Adam Hannett, head distiller at Bruichladdich Distillery, who produce whiskey on Scotland’s isle of Islay. “For instance, sherry casks are usually fairly sturdy and dominant when it comes to taste, with the wooden imparting wealthy dried fruit and nutty notes. In distinction, ex-brandy casks are likely to have a way more delicate affect, with light oak and floral notes.”

Basically, beforehand used barrels give whiskey producers the power to govern the flavour of a whiskey whereas staying inside the set guidelines that every area imposes on producers.

“For me, it’s nice to work with all kinds of casks to essentially discover the depth of flavors which pull from the oak when mixed with the spirit,” says Hannett. “It additionally challenges and excites us as whisky makers as we by no means know for absolute certainty how the spirit will take to the wooden.”

The forms of used barrels in whiskey finishes

Though many sorts of barrels have been used to totally or partially age whiskey, there are just a few particular sorts which can be used extra typically than others. 

Ex-bourbon barrels are essentially the most generally used barrels in whiskey manufacturing. Within the U.S., bourbon manufacturing is extremely regulated. 

“Bourbon is required to be aged in new charred oak. This laws defines the flavour profile,” says Dan Callaway, vice chairman of recent product growth and blender at Bardstown Bourbon Firm and Inexperienced River Distillery, situated in Bardstown and Owensboro, Kentucky, respectively. “There is a higher focus of wooden sugars and compounds in a first-use barrel. Because the liquid is pushed out and in of the wooden over time, it absorbs the caramel, vanilla, and baking spice that we love in our spirit.”

As a result of these barrels can solely be used as soon as, they’re then shipped to different distilleries the place there are not any restrictions on reusing barrels. As a result of ease of availability, most whiskey producers in Eire and Scotland age nearly all of their new-make spirits in ex-bourbon barrels for a lot of the growing older course of. 

Although the ex-bourbon barrels might have been beforehand used, the barrels nonetheless contribute fascinating flavors and aromas. 

“White oak from the U.S. gives wealthy vanilla and honey notes, together with coconut and baking spice,” says Munroe. “These casks are despatched all around the world for whiskey, rum, tequila, and lots of different types so these are quite common to search out as ending barrels.” 

Sherry casks are additionally generally used to age whiskey, particularly in Scotland. There are a handful of various types of sherry, a sort of fortified wine made in Spain, and every is outlined by variations within the manufacturing course of. Some scotch distilleries, like The Glendronach and The Macallan, rely closely on ex-sherry casks, whereas many others use these barrels to complete the whiskey.

In comparison with bourbon barrels, the casks used to age sherry are completely different in dimension and form and are constituted of a distinct species of oak wooden. 

“Sherry producers use French oak which is by far essentially the most generally used cask, [imparting] flavors [of] raisin, nuts, citrus, and chocolate hints,” says Munroe. 

French oak tends to impart extra savory and spicy flavors, together with a darkish chocolate word which many winemakers discover to be helpful.

Pushing the boundaries

In recent times, inventive producers have begun to look to several types of used barrels to create thrilling and distinctive whiskeys.

Throughout the previous 12 months, ex-rum barrels have been utilized by many producers to impart candy, tropical fruit notes and in sure instances, a little bit of pot-still funkiness as properly.

In 2023, Wild Turkey distillery took a 10-year-old bourbon and completed it in casks utilized by Appleton Property to age a pot nonetheless rum for 14 years. The end result was the critically acclaimed and restricted Grasp’s Hold Voyage bottling.

Several types of wine barrels are additionally being utilized by producers. 

“One in every of my favorites has been Sauternes casks which match so properly with Westward,” says Munroe. “It is a late harvest wine that provides honeysuckle, pineapple, cedar, and tobacco notes to the whiskey, together with a chic mouthfeel.” 

Westward has additionally experimented with regionally produced Tempranillo barrels. “Massive notes of orchard fruits, herbaceous sweetness, and juicy purple wine have made this launch an incredible expression of Westward,” says Munroe.

Via their Collaborative Sequence of whiskeys, Bardstown Bourbon Firm crafts quite a lot of distinctive barrel-finished whiskeys. 

“[Our] Collaborative Sequence is one in all my favourite expressions in spirits. We companion with one other wine, beer, or spirit producer to create a one-of-a-kind profile,” says Callaway. “We’re explorers at coronary heart and barrel ending is a chance to search out new taste.”

Bardstown Bourbon Firm has experimented with every thing from ex-Foursquare rum casks to barrels that after held Amaro Nonino. Their most up-to-date Collaborative Sequence launch is a blended whiskey partially aged in Amrut whisky barrels from Bangalore, India.

“Amrut’s barley is grown on the foot of the Himalayas and imparts stunning ripe fruit and malt notes,” says Callaway. “We created a customized rye mix to age within the Amrut barrels for 18 months, then surrounded this concentrated taste with 10–14-year Kentucky bourbon. It is a three-way steadiness between malt, rye, and bourbon.”

Each Westward and Bardstown Bourbon Firm have additionally experimented with whiskeys completed in casks beforehand used for barrel-aged beer. 

“One other knockout for us has been beer casks like stouts, which elevate the roasty, chocolate flavors within the single malt and produce nice toffee notes to the forefront,” says Munroe.

Bardstown Bourbon Firm collaborated with Chicago brewery Goose Island, who famously age their annual Bourbon County Stouts in ex-bourbon barrels. 

“We actually captured the essence of premium stout with this launch,” says Callaway. “The authenticity of the malt, honey, and chocolate stout taste comes from the residual liquid left within the barrel after emptying.”

As whiskey producers proceed to experiment with distinctive used barrels, the potential for collaborations throughout the spirits, wine, and beer {industry} grows. 

“With so many casks touring all over the world, they’re a part of the group of makers and a part of how we talk with one another and the oldsters who get pleasure from our choices,” says Munroe. 

As this industry-wide barrel collaboration proliferates, extra satisfying and distinctive whiskey is bound to search out its technique to liquor retailer cabinets.