Oak Ageing Barrel for Whisky and Rum | 1 litre, 1.5 litre, 3 litre, or 5 litre

Description

An ageing barrel (or aging barrel in the USA) is an amazing investment, allowing you to age spirits such as whisky, bourbon, brandy, port, rum and sherry.

Oak barrels for aging whiskey impart new flavours and depths to your spirit, drawing on the char inside the barrel to impart tannins and lactones enhancing vanilla and caramel flavours and mellowing the finish of the spirit to make it both richer and smoother.

How to use your oak ageing barrel

Having your own ageing barrel allows you to age your spirits to your own personal taste. Our barrels all have medium char, which opens upon the surface of the oak, allowing it to interact closely with the subtle elements of the whisky or other spirit.

This intensifies the mouth feel and adds a greater range of notes, so that your chosen tipple opens well, expands fully and lingers on the palate.

The char is a form of charcoal that filters the alcohol and removes any impurities, further increasing the mellowing process.

Having control of the aging process allows you to decide exactly how your whisky or other spirit should taste. For a sharper spirit a couple of week’s mellowing may be enough, while for a really resinous, balsamic savour, up to a year’s ageing may be preferred. Small barrels age spirits up to ten times quicker than the large ageing barrels used in distilleries as a result of their much higher spirit to surface area, causing more rapid interactions between spirits and wood.  Just sample your spirit every couple of weeks until you reach the perfect taste for you.

An ageing barrel will give you many years of service, but each time you use it, you’ll find the barrel and spirit interact differently, so you’ll need to continue to sample your spirit regularly – although that’s definitely no hardship!

Ageing rum in your oak barrel

Rum takes beautifully to oak. A few weeks in a medium-charred barrel softens a young rum’s sharp edges and builds the vanilla, caramel and toasted notes found in older aged rums. Small barrels work fast because so much of the spirit touches the wood, so taste every week or two until it’s right for you. Many customers also use their ageing barrel to make their own spiced rum at Christmas.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to prepare the barrel before use?
Yes. Every barrel must be cured first: fill it with water for a few days until the wood swells and stops leaking. Small leaks at first are completely normal.

How long should I age my spirit?
It’s up to your taste. Small barrels work fast, so start tasting after one to two weeks and check weekly.

Can I age rum in it?
Absolutely. Rum picks up vanilla and caramel quickly, and the barrel is great for making your own spiced rum. Use a dedicated barrel for spiced rum, as spices flavour the wood permanently.

Which size should I choose?
Smaller barrels age faster; larger barrels give you more to share and age more gently.

How long will the barrel last?
Looked after well, 8 to 10 years. The golden rule: never let it dry out.

For full step-by-step instructions, see our oak barrel care guide.