Bourbon barrels are used for much more than whiskey
Colin Joliat Barrel-aging is one of the most important aspects of making bourbon. If you’ve ever had white whiskey then you know exactly what I mean. The maturation process that occurs in the barrel creates many of the flavors that you know and love from your favorite bourbon. Unfortunately, by the laws of the bourbon lords, those barrels can each only be used once.
Many of these barrels then make their way over the pond to Scotch distilleries to be used again. Next time someone tries to look down their downs at you because they are sipping an 18 year old Scotch while you throw back another shot of bourbon, you can kindly remind him that he is drinking your sloppy seconds. A bourbon barrel’s life isn’t all fun and whiskey though. As this infographic shows, some of them go on to interesting secondary lives doing anything from aging beers in Michigan to growing herbs for one of the best chefs in the world.
If you can locate a bottle of New Holland’s “Dragon’s Milk,” do yourself a favor and pick one up. It may very well be the best thing to come out of a barrel other than monkeys or whiskey.
Image via TastingTable
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