Quercus alba

Barrel Aging

Oak, char, time, and the angel's share.

White oak. Michaux, The North American Sylva. Public domain.

The Angel's Share, and Who Actually Pays It

Every year a barrel quietly loses a few percent of its contents to the air. Whether that loss makes the whiskey stronger or weaker comes down to one thing: humidity.

June 28, 20263 min read

Bulletin № 008Barrel AgingQuercus alba

What the Char Actually Does to a Barrel

Setting fire to the inside of an oak barrel is not theater. The black layer does three different jobs at once, and most of a whiskey's flavor depends on getting it right.

June 26, 20263 min read