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Tasting notes and discussions
 The Whisky Forum : Discussions : Tasting notes and discussions
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Boris klingenberg
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Quote Boris klingenberg Replybullet Topic: Wood
    Posted: 13.02.2005 at 00:27
We (myself and a bunch of friends) were wondering what the effect of the type wood of the storagecask is on the taste and colour of the whiskey?
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Andy Sutherland
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Quote Andy Sutherland Replybullet Posted: 13.02.2005 at 00:28
HI there,

Its not usually the type of wood that effects the taste and colour of the whisky, but what the cask has had in it before.

Some Distilleries such as Macallan use nothing but Ex sherry casks to infuse the right amber colour and sherry taste. Obviously by using a new sherry cask you get more of the sherry infusing into the spirit and colour than if you use an refill sherry cask. Other distilleries use Borbourn casks and at the moment now a number of distilleries are experimenting with Port and RUm casks and some like Glen Moray are finishing the whisky off if Chardonnay wine casks to give the whisky a subtle finish. The longer you leave the spirit (which becomes whisky in 3 years) in the cask the more colour and flavour it takes out of the wood. If the cask is used too often without charring of the whisky is left in too long all the flavour will have come out of the barrel and the whisky will then begin to taste woody which will ruin the whisky.

Hope this helps

Regards

Andy S
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TNbourbon
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Joined: 21.02.2005
Location: United States
Posts: 41
Quote TNbourbon Replybullet Posted: 21.02.2005 at 23:09
Originally posted by Andy Sutherland

Its not usually the type of wood that effects the taste and colour of the whisky, but what the cask has had in it before


This is NOT true, of course, for American bourbon, which by law must be aged in NEW, charred oak (white oak is used, though is not specified) barrels. No less an authority than retired Ancient Age/Buffalo Trace Master Distiller Elmer T. Lee estimates that as much as 80% -- depending on bottling age -- of bourbons' taste comes from the wood.

Tim
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JIM
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Quote JIM Replybullet Posted: 25.02.2005 at 08:55

You might find this site of interest

www.camlachiecooperage.com

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