What kind of wood is used in whiskey barrels

The process of making a whiskey barrel usually begins with a stock of American white oak. This is the most commonly used wood for whiskey barrels, largely due to how leak-resistant it is and the flavors it imparts into spirits. Most whiskey barrels are made in the US, where white oak grows.

Are all whiskey barrels oak?

Will any Oak Whiskey barrel do? Just three species of oak are used for wine and whisky barrel making or cooperage: Quercus Alba, “White Oak” (America). Commonly referred to as “American Oak” and is the most commonly used variety in whisky cooperage.

What type of oak is used for bourbon barrels?

Quercus alba, also known as white oak or American oak, dominates the whiskey industry thanks to the mandated use of new charred oak barrels for bourbon aging. Contrary to popular belief, there is no legal mandate to use white oak, however its abundance has made it the de facto choice.

What kind of wood is used for Jack Daniels barrels?

American white oak is the preferred wood for making whiskey barrels. Experts say it gives distilled spirits a nutty flavor with a hint of vanilla. Jack Daniel’s master distiller Jeff Arnett said the 53-gallon barrels are responsible for all the color in the famous Tennessee whiskey and more than half the flavor.

Which wood is best for aging whiskey?

Oak is the most commonly used wood not just in Scotch whisky and American bourbon, but also the wine industry. “Because of its primary role, aging in oak is often seen as the one true bellwether of quality,” Shane Armstrong, Westland Distillery blender, says.

Does Jack Daniels burn their barrels?

Once assembled, the barrel’s interior is toasted and charred to coax the wood’s natural sugars out and caramelize them. Those sugars are such an important part of where our whiskey flavor develops, we’ve painstakingly developed our own method of toasting our barrels that’s exclusive to Jack Daniel’s.

Why are Whisky barrels charred?

Charring does a number of things. It helps to further break down the structure of the oak allowing easier, and deeper, penetration by the spirit, and a more intense interaction with the flavours produced through lignin degradation.

Does Jack Daniels sell their whiskey barrels?

We offer both Finished and Unfinished Used Whiskey Barrels For Sale. The Unfinished ones are raw and straight out of production.

Where are bourbon barrels made?

Bourbon barrels are made at a place called a cooperage. Many brands contract a cooperage to craft barrels to their specifications. Brown-Forman operates its own cooperages to make barrels. Other regional cooperages include Independent Stave Company in Bardstown, Kentucky and Kelvin Cooperage in Louisville.

How long is whiskey aged in oak barrels?

Scotch oak barrels are normally used to age distilled spirits for at least three years when producing Scotch whisky. Before the spirit is placed in Scotch oak barrels for aging, water is added to reduce the spirit to 124 proof. After aging in Scotch oak barrels, water is also added to the whisky before bottling.

Article first time published on

What does French oak do to whiskey?

French oak isn’t only coveted by winemakers. Many spirits producers love the subtle flavors and tannins of this oak. American rye producers often use French Oak to accentuate the spicy, peppery notes of their whiskey.

What alcohol is not aged in oak barrels?

Bourbon Doesn’t Need to be Aged in American Oak Barrels, or in Barrels at All – Alcademics.

Why is white oak used for barrels?

The wood cells of white oak trees contain a plastic-like substance called tyloses that makes the durable wood waterproof and accounts for its use in barrels, buckets, and ships. … White oak’s cellular structure allows small amounts of oxygen to permeate barrel staves and diffuse its contents.

How do you recharge a whiskey barrel?

This re-charring is a simple process that can be done with a butane lighter, which has a flexible end. Simply remove the spigot and stopper, and then place the end of the lighter into the opening. While the lighter is lit, slowly roll the oak barrel to put a fresh char on the inside.

Why is the inside of a whiskey barrel black?

The interior of charred barrels are black and have much more ash residue, resulting in a much darker color for the whiskey. … The reason for this is that the wood sugars are caramelized when heavily burned, and thus they leach into the whiskey.

Where are Whisky barrels made?

The process of crafting a cask begins in the forest. Oak trees that grow tall and straight without low-hanging branches are harvested and sent to a sawmill where the heartwood is carved into staves. Each tree can provide enough wood to make around three barrels.

How do you char a whiskey barrel?

Fire in the Hole “Once a barrel is fed into the line, it is blasted with a propane flame,” LaHue says. “As soon as the barrel interior ignites, the propane is extinguished. The barrel burns vigorously at 500 to 600 degrees for a specified time, depending upon the level of char desired.

What does Jack Daniels do with old barrels?

Instead, they donate their barrels to be used by hot sauce makers, beer brewers, and Scotch whiskey distillers. “Because these barrels were once home to our Tennessee Whiskey, we like to think we’ve done our part to help make those products just a little better,” the brand says.

Who makes bourbon barrels in Kentucky?

Kentucky Cooperage makes Lebanon the “Bourbon Barrel-Makin Capital” of Kentucky. Oh, come on now. A Kentucky Cooperage cooper in Lebanon, KY, making a barrel is much more than that.

How are whiskey barrels sealed?

Because the barrels are not made with any glue or nails, the wood relies on the moisture from the spirit to expand the wood and keep the wooden staves sealed tight to ensure there are no leaks. … Continue to do this until the barrel is no longer leaking water. This should take approximately 2-3 days.

How heavy is an empty whiskey barrel?

An empty once used bourbon barrel weighs between 105 and 120lbs.

How much does a new wooden barrel cost?

An oak barrel can range in price from $900 all the way up to $2,000 depending on if it is made from American Oak or French Oak. An oak barrel will only continue to give your wine that oak flavor for, at most, 8 fills. Over the course of 30 years you can spend, at least, $4,500 replacing that barrel.

How much is a whole barrel of Jack Daniels?

You can purchase a whole barrel (or 240 bottles worth) of Jack Daniel’s from the distillery in Lynchburg or have it sent to your home. The barrel costs $10,000, plus tax. You can hand-select your barrel, or have it chosen for you.

Does whiskey get stronger in the barrel?

The proof in your barrel has now (most likely) increased from 103 to 110 – as proof almost always increases during the aging process. Had you gone with the maximum of 125 proof, it would probably have been around 135 proof, by now.

What wood is bourbon aged in?

Bourbon must be aged in a newly charred American white oak barrel, and later the used bourbon barrels are utilized in aging many varieties of scotch, whiskey, and other spirits. American oak wood barrels impart mellow notes of vanilla, caramel, and coconut and softly affect the taste.

What does oak taste like in whiskey?

Oak is full of compounds that evoke that classic whiskey flavor, like caramel, vanilla, toasted almond, coconut, maple syrup, and baking spice. “Barrels are a very large contributor to flavor and aroma,” says Tripp. But not all barrels are created alike.

Why are oak barrels so expensive?

Traditionally, the most expensive wine brands in the world are aged in new oak barrels. In fact, an 80-year-old oak has only enough wood for two barrels. Therefore, production costs may increase for producers. This creates a substantial cost per bottle to ferment or brew in new barrels.

What is the difference between casks and barrels?

is that cask is a large barrel for the storage of liquid, especially of alcoholic drinks while barrel is (countable) a round vessel or cask, of greater length than breadth, and bulging in the middle, made of staves bound with hoops, and having flat ends or heads sometimes applied to a similar cylindrical container made …

What is the diff between bourbon and whiskey?

Whiskey is a distilled spirit made from grains like corn and rye and aged in wooden barrels. Bourbon is a type of whiskey, and there are strict rules in place to ensure its quality. Bourbon must be made in the US, distilled from at least 51% corn, and aged in new oak-charred barrels.

Does bourbon have to be aged in charred oak barrels?

To be bourbon, it must be aged in a bourbon barrel. A bourbon barrel must be a new, charred oak container. … It is required, however, for bourbon aged less than four years to sport an age statement upon its label. Finally, bourbon must be distilled to 160 proof—that’s 80% alcohol—and not more.

Is bourbon aged in barrels?

Therefore, it can be said that bourbon is a type of whiskey that must be made of at least 51 percent corn, aged in new, charred oak barrels/containers. It can be made in any state in the U.S., but Kentucky makes about 95 percent, while other states produce the remaining 5 percent.