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French, American, or Hungarian Oak? With Hybrid Barrels, Distillers Don’t Have to Choose

Some say there’s no bigger influence on a whiskey’s flavor than the barrel it’s aged in. Today, hybrid barrels made from multiple types of wood are offering distillers some new choices when it comes to the kind of influence they’re looking for.

Different wood types, naturally, have different impacts on a spirit. American oak is known for its big, sweet, buttery influence, while French oak offers silkier tannins and more toasty and nutty flavors. Hungarian oak is roasty, while mizunara oak is spicy.

And the type of wood is just the beginning. Toast or char levels also have an enormous impact on the flavor of the distillate, as does the quality of the wood itself, which is influenced by the forest, weather, and conditions in which the tree grew. The barrel’s size and any previous contents are also critical to consider.

Rolling Thunder Barrel Works
Rogue cooper Nate Lindquist works at crafting a barrel (image via Rogue Spirits)

With hybrid barrels, distillers can combine multiple wood types in a single barrel, a tactic that’s possible because of the unique way that barrels are made. A barrel is made up of two heads and a number of staves, or curved planks that fit together so snugly that they create a watertight seal. The staves don’t necessarily all need to be made of the same wood, nor must the material of the heads match the staves.

Distillers or coopers can make hybrid barrels themselves by disassembling two or more existing barrels made from different woods, and then recombining the staves in a new combination. Or, they might replace one or both of the barrel heads with another made from a different material. Independent Stave Company offers another option: a ready-made hybrid barrel called Cooper’s Select, made of American oak staves and French oak heads.

Several hybrid barrel releases have hit shelves recently, including Amrut Spectrum, which mixes staves from no fewer than five different wood types: new American Oak, new French Oak, new Spanish Oak, ex-PX cask sherry cask staves, and ex-Olorosso sherry cask staves. Maker’s Mark also recently introduced a new program called Private Barrel that allows interested parties to select from five different stave types for a custom-finished Maker’s Mark.

 

 

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