Casks, wood and palate's

Here’s little something for the geeks amongst you who wanted to know what size barrels were used to distil whisky! But more importantly – how the barrel and the flavour it adds to the malt is derived and how palate’s are increasingly coming to expect to find it.

“Butts"

Casks which are used for the maturation of sherry are typically known as butts. They have a capacity of 500 litres which is the equivalent of 110 UK gallons or 132 US gallons.

"Hogshead"

A hogshead is referring to the traditional cask size of 250 litres which is equivalent of 55 UK gallons or 66 US gallons.

"Barrel"

The American white oak barrel is sometimes used to indicate a ‘bourbon barrel’. This usually has a capacity of approximately 200 litres and is equivalent to 44 UK gallons or 53 US gallons

Over time many of the malt whisky distilleries have experimented with wood finishes with a range of success. The phrase "wood finish" indicates that the whisky was first matured in either bourbon or sherry wood butts but that is then re-racked.This maturation process often lasts for an extra half year or so but some finishes may extend this for up to two years.

Today, the value of this wood flavoured element that is added to the nose, flavour and general aroma of a malt seems to be an increasing expectation for the palates of the whisky enthusiast.