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Oak Ageing of Alcohol
Rating: 4.6 out of 5(23 ratings)
159 students

Oak Ageing of Alcohol

Valuable Insights for a future craft distiller
Created byMalcolm Bucholtz
Last updated 8/2020
English

What you'll learn

  • For people interested in perhaps one day launching a craft distillery business, this Course provides valuable insight into the ageing of alcohol in oak barrels, including the structure of oak wood, how barrels are made and how the chemical processes that occur in a barrel help create taste and character.

Course content

1 section • 6 lectures • 1h 8m total length

  • Introduction1:18
  • The Structure of Wood10:38

    What is wood made of? What are the key chemical components? How are they formed and what do they variously contribute to wood? This lecture introduces the participant to the basic structure of wood.

  • Oak Wood10:49

    This lecture aims to build on the one previous. With a basic understanding of the structure of wood, this lecture specifically examines the structure of oak wood.

  • Making an Oak Barrel13:24
  • Reactions inside the Barrel24:08

    This lecture introduces the idea that the oak staves that make up a barrel can actually breathe. Over time, air (oxygen) penetrates the barrel and water vapor/alcohol vapor escape. This loss is termed the angel's share and can be substantial over long periods of time. The oxygen entering the barrel causes oxidation reactions in the distillate which build layers of flavor. The size of the oak barrel can play a role in how quickly the distillate ages. The climate in the area where the oak barrel is situated will affect the speed of ageing as well.

  • Barrel Vendors7:47

    This lecture seeks to provide the participant with some ideas as to where to start looking to source oak barrels.

Requirements

  • No specific requirements

Description

A craft distiller seeking to make whisky, rum or brandies will be faced with the daunting challenge of ageing the distillate in an oak barrel. What is wood made of? Why are barrels for the spirits industry made of oak? How are oak barrels made? What reactions occur to the alcohol in the oak barrel during ageing? Where does a craft distiller get oak barrels? Should barrels be new or used? This course aims to answer these questions and many more for the potential future craft distiller who wants to learn about oak barrel ageing.

Who this course is for:

  • Entrepreneurs interested in perhaps one day launching a craft distillery business.

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