Aging of whiskey spirits in barrels of non-traditional volume

ABSTRACTAGING OF WHISKEY SPIRITS IN BARRELS OF NON-TRADITIONAL VOLUMEByJohn D.E. Jeffery In the aging of whiskey spirits, oak barrels provide vessels for containment which are semi-permeable to the spirit and to outside air. The barrel wood itself provides extractives derived from structural polymers which have been degraded during barrel construction. These extractives have a cumulative effect on the sensory characteristics of the aging spirit. The traditional barrel for the aging of spirits ranges from 52-60 American gallons. Recent growth in the American craft distilled spirits industry has increased the use of reduced volume barrels ranging from 2-30 American gallons. These smaller barrels provide more rapid extraction and to some extent more rapid maturation. The current study tracked extraction rates of 5 phenolic components from 2, 3, 5, and 10 gallon barrels confirming that extraction rate is tied to surface area to volume (SA/V) ratio. Volume loss was also monitored and rate of volume loss tied to SA/V ratio with greater losses in smaller volume containers. Extracts from oak spirals were examined and it was found that a variety of spirals may produce an extraction profile that is comparable to a barrel extract and that almost complete extraction was achieved in 10 days.

Author dc:creator

• Jeffery, John D. E.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Berglund, Kris A.
• Steffe, James
• Linz, John

• Wood distillation
• Whiskey industry
• Whiskey
• Equipment and supplies
• Barrels

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

Language dc:language

English

Identifier

etd:1059
isbn:9781267718136
isbn:1267718137
oclc:931883289
umi:1529304
local:Jeffery_grad.msu_0128N_11603

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:d.lib.msu.edu:etd_1059