Casks

To impart flavour and colour into your favourite single malt all Scotch whisky is matured in oak casks. These casks are mainly sourced from the United States, Spain or Portugal. These oak casks are often called barrels, hogsheads, puncheons or butts.

The casks from the United States have previously predominately been used for the maturation of bourbon whiskey, the casks from Spain to mature Sherry and the casks from Portugal to mature Port.

Scottish law states that whisky barrels can be used as many times as desired however in the United States casks are only allowed to be used once. This means that supply to the Scottish whisky industry is in good supply, as long as the world continues to drink bourbon. In Spain Sherry barrels can be used over long periods of time allowing the barrels used to soak the Sherry flavours into the wood. Supply of Sherry barrels is important however in recent times drinking Sherry has become less desirable and the barrels are now becoming more scarce and expensive. This then creates a upward price movement in whisky which has been matured in a Sherry barrels. The same situation also sits with the barrels sourced from Portugal which contained Port.

The biggest challenge a distiller has is sourcing, choosing, purchasing and crafting the perfect barrel.

The casks purchased are various sizes and impart different flavours into the spirit. Barrels range from a 45 litres Quarter Cask to a large 650 litre Madeira Drum. Lets take a look at each of the casks in details and match them with some of our favourite whiskies.

Bourbon Barrel (approx. 180 litres to 200 litres)

Previously used to mature bourbon from the United States these barrels are one of the most common used in the industry This is a standard bourbon barrel and can only be used once in the production of bourbon whiskey. They required by law to be made from American oak. Fact: Moet Hennessey own their own forest in the United States where they grow American oak trees. They select the right trees at the right time to be cut down and used in the maturation of bourbon. Giving the barrels to the American bourbon industry ‘on loan’ for ‘seasoning’. This gives them control over the barrels from tree to bottling.

Your favourite whisky: Arran, The Balvenie, The Glenlivet, Glenmorangie, Jack Ryan, Auchentoshan, Glencadam, Tomintoul and Signatory Vintage.

Purchase whiskies matured in a bourbon barrel here

Hogshead Barrel (approx. 225 litres to 250 litres)

After bourbon barrels, hogsheads are the second-most common type of cask used in maturing Scotch whisky. This barrel is made from American oak and most commonly built from the staves of bourbon barrels. Hogsheads are used to mature whisky for longer periods as the spirit to wood contact is reduced due to the larger size of cask. It is possible to have a whisky matured in an ex-Bourbon hogshead and an ex-Sherry Hogshead however Hogsheads are used to mature many other spirits and beverages. Fact: A tobacco hogshead was used in British and American colonial times to transport and store tobacco. It was a very large wooden barrel. A standardised hogshead measured 48 inches (1,219 mm) long and 30 inches (762 mm) in diameter at the head (at least 550 L or 121 imp gal or 145 US gal, depending on the width in the middle). Fully packed with tobacco, it weighed about 1,000 pounds (454 kg).

Your favourite whisky: Glenfiddich, Dalwhinnie, The Balvenie, The Glenlivet, Tomatin, Glen Grant, Tomintoul, Glencadam and Signatory Vintage.

Purchase whiskies matured in a hogshead barrel here

Sherry Butt (approx. 475 litres to 500 litres)

The Sherry industry generally use a barrel or cask called a butt. This is the second most commonly used barrel in the maturation of Scotch whisky. These butt’s can be made of Spanish oak or American oak, both oaks contributing different flavours to the spirit. Fact: In 1981, the Spanish government changed its export rules, banning the use of casks for shipping. The global supply of sherry barrels dried up overnight.