As part of its latest endeavor in
experimentation, Buffalo Trace Distillery is experimenting with barrels made of
300-year-old wood. This venture is one of many wood-specific experiments that
the Distillery has led. Previous wood experiments have utilized wood harvested
from around the world, analyzed the differences between barrels created from
different parts of the tree and many more.
This experiment, however, will allow the
team at Buffalo Trace to observe what effects the age of an oak tree itself
could have on the taste of the bourbon. The barrel wood used in this trial came
from 300-year-old trees previously cut in Kentucky, the oldest oak trees the
Distillery could find that had already been harvested. This was a rare find as
an average oak tree will end its life cycle before reaching 200 years. Working
with the barrel manufacturer the East Bernstadt Company, it took more than a
year to procure the 300-year-old wood and then a year of stave seasoning before
the barrels were made. The team at
Buffalo Trace is eager to see what effects the drastic age of the wood will
have on the bourbon. “It’s a unique opportunity to be able to experiment with a
variable that is even older than our Distillery, which is 244 years old,”
Master Distiller Harlen Wheatley said. “We are really looking forward to seeing
how extremely old wood might affect the taste of the bourbon, and hopefully
will make some interesting observations along the way that will be useful going
forward.” The 300-year-old barrels were filled and rolled into an aging
warehouse in December where they will remain for at least the next six years,
likely longer, until ready.
This is an interesting experiment that
will have an effect on all spirits that are aged in wood. The more that you know about the barrels that
you are using to age the spirits, the better the quality of the finished spirit
that you get to enjoy in your house.
