Paese
Bahamas
Brasile
Costa Rica
Cuba
Filippine
Honduras
Indonesia
Isole Canarie
Italia
Messico
Nicaragua
Panama
Peru
Republica Dominicana
U.S.A.
Formato
Churchill
Corona Gorda
Double Corona
Gordo
Gran Corona
Lancero/Panetela
Lonsdale
Perfecto
Petit Corona/Corona
Petit Robusto
Piramide/Torpedo
Robusto
Salomone/Diadema
Shorts
Toro
Troncoconico
Prezzo
Sotto 6
6-10
10-15
15-20
20-30
Oltre 30
Forza
Leggera
Medio-leggera
Media
Medio-forte
Forte
Valutazione
95-100
90-94
85-89
80-84
Inferiore a 80
Flavor profile
Cocoa
Creamy
Earth
Herbs
Leather
Nuts
Roasted
Smoky
Spices
Sweet
Vegetal
Wood
Tipo distillato
Armagnac
Cognac
Rum
Whisky
Paese
Antigua
Barbados
Canada
Cuba
England
France
India
Ireland
Italy
Jamaica
Japan
Martinique
Netherlands
Scotland
Taiwan
Trinidad and Tobago
United States
Svezia
Galles
Guadalupa
Panama
Repubblica Dominicana
ABV
38.0-39.9%
40.0-43.0%
43.1-46.0%
46.1-50.0%
50.1-55.0%
over 55.0%
OB o IB
OB
IB
Prezzo
under 50
50-100
100-250
250-500
over 500
Valutazione
95-100
90-94
85-89
80-84
Inferiore a 80
Flavor profile
Cereal
Floral
Fruity
Honey
Marine
Peated
Sherried
Spices
Sweet
Winey
Wood

Whisky Barrels

Whisky Barrels

Whisky Barrels 800 450 Federico Bosco

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The Whisky Barrels are wooden structures that can hold between 40 and 700 liters of distillate. Size influences aging, as well as the origin of the wood. American Oak barrels are the most used, while the European ones are rarer because they are more expensive. Virgin Barrel (“Virgin Oak”) aged products are also available on the market.

The previously contained liquid transmits particular characteristics to the wood (receiving as many) that will then be released to the next distillate: it is fragrances, flavors and color. These characteristics will give a very precise impression to the whiskey, so the selection of barrels is essential for every distillery.

Nowadays, around 90% of the barrels present are “ex-Bourbon”, barrels that previously contained American Bourbon. They are cheaper barrels, usually with a capacity of 250 liters. European Oak barrels are rarer and usually contain up to 500 liters. Some distilleries, such as Glendronach, are known for an almost exclusive use of barrels of this type. Several distilleries exploit the characteristics of the two types of barrels, to create products that combine different characteristics.

The barrels are used several times, usually three or four times, to amortize the cost of the barrel itself and because they become part of the distillery’s assets. At the end of the three/four fills the barrel can be renewed and reused again (all this happens through a re-flaming process, in order to give it new life).

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Each distillery has its own historical register of barrels, which allows them to know exactly the number of times a barrel has been used. The first filling characterizes the liquid the most. Before being put into a barrel,  the distillate’s alcoholic content is lowered until it reaches 63.5 °, an alcohol content considered optimal for aging. Subsequently it is poured into the barrel, which is then placed in the warehouses for the aging process.

There are two types of warehouses: Dunnage, or with a maximum of three rows of overlapping barrels, or Racks, characterized by metal structures that rise up to the ceiling. To avoid economic problems due to natural and non-natural disasters (first of all the fires), the distilleries are used to exchange barrels, or adopt special measures, such as the layout of the warehouses at a certain distance from each other.

The wood of the cask immediately absorbs 2% of the new spirit and then, annually, the distillate loses a variable percentage of alcohol, the so-called Angel’s Share: this can vary from 1-2% for Scotland, to much higher percentages , as in Taiwan (Kavalan distillery) or in India (Amrut).

CURIOSITY

In addition to the American and European Oak, there is a third type, the Mizunara, the name of the Japanese Oak. Bowmore launched a bottle aged exclusively in these barrels. Then there are several Japanese whiskeys that use, at least in part, this type of barrel.