Restore an old whiskey barrel and remove rust with a little elbow grease and the right tools and techniques. Learn how to maintain high-quality barrels for perfect whiskey flavoring and coloring.
Learn how barrel proofing helps create some of the finest whiskeys by aging whiskey in charred oak barrels. This process imparts complex flavors and aromas like vanilla, caramel, and spice, plus a subtle smoky flavor. The result? Smooth, flavorful whiskey.
Discover how barrel size affects the maturation process of whiskey, and why some whiskeys seem to age faster than others. Smaller barrels mean more surface area exposed to the wood, resulting in quicker interaction between the whiskey and the barrel. This can speed up the maturation process from 6-8 years to 6-18 months.
Revive an old whiskey barrel and age your own custom spirits! With patience, you can bring the wood back to life and enjoy the fruits of your labor.
Discover the secret behind whiskey's distinctive flavor and color: barrel aging. For an extra special treat, try double barrel aging, where whiskey is aged in two barrels for a more complex taste.
Once used to age whiskey, oak barrels lead interesting second lives. After imparting their flavor, they're emptied and removed from the rickhouse, but their story doesn't end there.
For centuries, cooperages have crafted barrels by hand, shaping raw oak staves into watertight vessels that impart unique flavors to aged spirits. Despite dwindling numbers, some family-owned cooperages still practice this traditional art, and their handmade barrels are in high demand.
Discover how barrel transportation affects the flavor of whiskey: from the charred oak to the tumbles and turns of the barrel's journey, each step adds complexity to the flavor.
Transform used whiskey barrels into wood chips for smoking meats! With some basic tools and a little elbow grease, you can enjoy the smoky, caramel-infused flavors of whiskey-aged wood in your next BBQ. Learn how to upcycle whiskey barrels into a secret smoking weapon!
Make your DIY whiskey barrel planters last with these tips from an experienced maker. Learn how to ensure your rustic, earthy planters last for many summers to come.
Unlock the mystery of complex whiskeys with solera aging, an age-old technique used by distillers around the world. This process blends young and aged whiskey, creating a unique flavor far richer than any single barrel. Appreciate fine whiskey with a deeper understanding of solera aging.
Master coopers use ancient techniques to craft barrels that shape the flavor, aroma, and color of whiskey. But this dying art is practiced by only a few dozen in Scotland and Kentucky.
