🍷 Oak barrel
Also known as: oak barrel, wine barrel, oak cask, barrique, oak barrels
A wooden vessel made of oak staves in which wine matures, picks up new aromas and slowly takes in air.
An oak barrel (also called a wine barrel or oak cask) is a wooden vessel built from oak staves. Wine matures in it, picks up new aromas and slowly takes in air. The 225-litre Bordeaux size is called a barrique. Coopers mostly use two European oaks, Quercus petraea and Q. robur, largely from French forests, plus American Quercus alba.
The craft is old. More than 2,000 years ago, in northern Europe under Roman rule, people shipped oil and wine in wooden barrels because clay was hard to come by. Today a cooper puts the staves together, binds them with hoops and toasts the barrel's inside over heat. The heat makes the planks bend, and the toasting shapes the flavour: it produces furanic compounds, vanillin and oak lactones. The stronger the toast, the smokier the taste.
A barrel is not airtight. One early estimate says a full barrel takes in 15 to 45 mg of oxygen per litre a year. One breakdown puts 63% of it through the joints between staves and only 16% through the wood. That air steadies the colour and shifts astringency. The wood adds tannins, and some wine evaporates through the pores.
Oaks differ too. In one trial with oak chips, French oak gave smoky, liquorice and toasty notes, while American oak gave vanilla and cocoa. Wood also lets through different amounts of air. Across 214 American oak staves the rate varied widely and averaged about 68% below figures reported for French oak. A new barrel gives more than a used one. Whisky and brandy age in the same wood.
Facts
| Botanical origin | Quercus petraea, Q. robur (Europe), Q. alba (USA) 1 |
|---|---|
| Cask type | Bordeaux barrique, 225 L 1 |
| Main use | Wine maturation: steadier colour, oxygen, tannins and aromas from oak 1 |
How it connects to Wine
🍷 Oak barrel ← packed in ← 🍷 Wine
How it connects to Spirits
🍷 Oak barrel ← packed in ← 🥃 Spirits
Links
- Previous step
- 🏷️ Aging of wine, 🍷 Sulphur candle (barrel), 🍷 Oak chips, 🍷 Barrels on ships, 🍷 Cooper, 🍷 Tannins, 🥃 Eau-de-vie de Faugères
- Next step
- 🏷️ Oak ageing, 🥃 Aquavit, 🥃 Jägermeister Manifest
- What is packed
- 🍷 Wine, 🥃 Brandy de Jerez, 🌵 Agave: tequila and mezcal, 🥃 Spirits, 🥃 Whisky, 🍇 Grape brandies, 🍎 Fruit brandies, ⚗️ How spirits are made, 🌴 Rum and sugarcane spirits, 🏷️ Label, law and health
and 742 more
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Old Small Batch Reserve, 🥃 Glenfiddich 21 Year Old Gran Reserva, 🥃 Glenfiddich Grand Cru 23 Year Old, 🥃 The Macallan Double Cask 12 Years Old, 🥃 The Macallan Double Cask 18 Years Old, 🥃 The Macallan Sherry Oak 12 Years Old, 🥃 The Macallan Sherry Oak 18 Years Old, 🥃 Laphroaig 10 Year Old, 🥃 Laphroaig Lore, 🥃 Laphroaig Quarter Cask, 🥃 Laphroaig Select, 🥃 Laphroaig Triple Wood, 🥃 Chivas Regal 12 Year Old, 🥃 Chivas Regal 18 Year Old Gold Signature, 🥃 Chivas Regal 25 Year Old, 🥃 Chivas Regal Extra 13, 🥃 Ballantine's 12 Year Old, 🥃 Ballantine's 17 Year Old, 🥃 Ballantine's 30 Year Old, 🥃 Ballantine's Finest, 🥃 Ballantine's Hard Fired, 🥃 Bénédictine 1888, 🥃 Bénédictine B&B, 🥃 Bénédictine D.O.M., 🥃 Bénédictine Single Cask, 🥃 Rémy Martin 1738 Accord Royal, 🥃 Louis XIII de Rémy Martin, 🥃 Rémy Martin VSOP, 🥃 Rémy Martin XO, 🥃 Grand Marnier Cordon Rouge, 🥃 Lagavulin 11 Year Old Sweet Peat, 🥃 Lagavulin 16 Year Old, 🥃 Lagavulin Distillers Edition, 🥃 Ardbeg An Oa, 🥃 Ardbeg Corryvreckan, 🥃 Ardbeg Ten, 🥃 Ardbeg Uigeadail, 🥃 Ardbeg Wee Beastie, 🥃 Courvoisier Extra, 🥃 Courvoisier V.S, 🥃 Courvoisier V.S.O.P, 🥃 Courvoisier XO Royal, 🥃 Courvoisier X.O, 🥃 Maker's Mark 101, 🥃 Maker's Mark 46, 🥃 Maker's Mark Cask Strength, 🥃 Maker's Mark Classic, 🥃 Old Monk Gold Reserve, 🥃 The Glenlivet 12 Year Old, 🥃 The Glenlivet 15 Year Old French Oak Reserve, 🥃 The Glenlivet 18 Year Old, 🥃 The Glenlivet Founder's Reserve, 🥃 The Glenlivet Nàdurra Oloroso, 🥃 Glenmorangie Lasanta, 🥃 Glenmorangie Nectar d'Or, 🥃 Glenmorangie The Original, 🥃 Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban, 🥃 Martell Cordon Bleu, 🥃 Martell VS, 🥃 Martell VSOP, 🥃 Martell XO, 🥃 Bushmills 10 Year Old, 🥃 Bushmills 16 Year Old, 🥃 Bushmills 21 Year Old, 🥃 Bushmills Black Bush, 🥃 Bushmills Original, 🥃 Tullamore Dew 12 Year Old Special Reserve, 🥃 Tullamore Dew 14 Year Old Single Malt, 🥃 Tullamore Dew Original, 🥃 Tullamore Dew XO Caribbean Rum Cask Finish, 🥃 Havana Club Añejo 3 Años, 🥃 Havana Club Añejo 7 Años, 🥃 Havana Club Añejo Especial, 🥃 Havana Club Selección de Maestros, 🥃 Caol Ila 12 Year Old, 🥃 Caol Ila 18 Year Old, 🥃 Caol Ila 25 Year Old, 🥃 Caol Ila Moch, 🥃 Cutty Sark 12 Year Old, 🥃 Cutty Sark Original, 🥃 Cutty Sark Prohibition, 🥃 Talisker 10 Year Old, 🥃 Talisker Distillers Edition, 🥃 Talisker Skye, 🥃 Talisker Storm, 🥃 The Balvenie Caribbean Cask 14 Year Old, 🥃 The Balvenie DoubleWood 12 Year Old, 🥃 The Balvenie DoubleWood 17 Year Old, 🥃 The Balvenie PortWood 21 Year Old, 🥃 Christian Brothers Apple, 🥃 Christian Brothers Honey, 🥃 Christian Brothers Peach, 🥃 Christian Brothers VS Brandy, 🥃 Crown Royal Black, 🥃 Crown Royal Fine De Luxe, 🥃 Crown Royal Northern Harvest Rye, 🥃 Crown Royal Reserve 12 Year, 🥃 The Famous Grouse Blended Scotch Whisky, 🥃 The Famous Grouse Sherry Cask Finish, 🥃 The Famous Grouse Smoky Black, 🥃 Bruichladdich The Classic Laddie, 🥃 Bruichladdich Octomore, 🥃 Bruichladdich Port Charlotte, 🥃 Kilchoman Machir Bay, 🥃 Kilchoman Sanaig, 🥃 Grant's Triple Wood 12, 🥃 Grant's Triple Wood 8, 🥃 Grant's Triple Wood, 🥃 Canadian Club 100% Canadian Rye, 🥃 Canadian Club 1858, 🥃 Canadian Club Classic 12 Year Old, 🥃 Canadian Club Reserve 9 Year Old, 🥃 Dewar's 12 Year Old, 🥃 Dewar's 15 Year Old, 🥃 Dewar's 18 Year Old, 🥃 Dewar's White Label, 🥃 Unicum Barista, 🥃 Unicum Riserva, 🥃 Unicum Szilva, 🥃 Unicum, 🥃 Bunnahabhain 12 Year Old, 🥃 Bunnahabhain 18 Year Old, 🥃 Ron Zacapa 23, 🥃 Ron Zacapa Edición Negra, 🥃 Ron Zacapa XO, 🥃 Woodford Reserve Kentucky Straight Bourbon, 🥃 Woodford Reserve Double Oaked, 🥃 Woodford Reserve Malt, 🥃 Four Roses Bourbon, 🥃 Four Roses Small Batch, 🥃 Four Roses Single Barrel, 🥃 Four Roses Small Batch Select, 🥃 Glen Grant Arboralis, 🥃 Glen Grant 10 Year Old, 🥃 Glen Grant 12 Year Old, 🥃 Glen Grant 15 Year Old, 🥃 Glen Grant 18 Year Old, 🥃 Dalmore 12 Year Old, 🥃 Dalmore 15 Year Old, 🥃 Dalmore 18 Year Old, 🥃 Don Julio Añejo, 🥃 Don Julio Reposado, 🥃 Scapa Glansa, 🥃 Scapa Skiren, 🥃 Springbank 10 Year Old, 🥃 Springbank 15 Year Old, 🥃 Springbank 18 Year Old, 🥃 Aberlour 12 Year Old Double Cask, 🥃 Aberlour 18 Year Old, 🥃 Aberlour A'bunadh, 🥃 Aberlour Casg Annamh, 🥃 Casamigos Añejo, 🥃 Casamigos Cristalino, 🥃 Casamigos Reposado, 🥃 GlenDronach 12 Year Old, 🥃 GlenDronach 15 Year Old Revival, 🥃 GlenDronach 18 Year Old Allardice, 🥃 GlenDronach 21 Year Old Parliament, 🥃 Bulleit 10 Year Old Bourbon, 🥃 Bulleit 10 Year Old Rye, 🥃 Bulleit Rye, 🥃 Bulleit Bourbon, 🥃 Ardmore Legacy, 🥃 Ardmore Port Wood Finish, 🥃 Bundaberg Original UP, 🥃 Bundaberg Select Vat, 🥃 Bundaberg Small Batch Reserve, 🥃 Mount Gay Black Barrel, 🥃 Mount Gay Eclipse, 🥃 Mount Gay Silver, 🥃 Mount Gay XO, 🥃 Glen Moray 12 Year Old, 🥃 Glen Moray 18 Year Old, 🥃 Flor de Caña Centenario 12, 🥃 Flor de Caña 18, 🥃 Flor de Caña 4 Extra Seco, 🥃 Flor de Caña Gran Reserva 7, 🥃 Luxardo Amaretto di Saschira, 🥃 Luxardo Maraschino Originale, 🥃 Luxardo Sangue Morlacco, 🥃 Pappy Van Winkle's 20 Year, 🥃 Pappy Van Winkle's 23 Year, 🥃 Barbancourt 3 Star, 🥃 Barbancourt 5 Star Réserve Spéciale, 🥃 Barbancourt Réserve du Domaine, 🥃 Brugal 1888, 🥃 Brugal Añejo, 🥃 Brugal Extra Viejo, 🥃 Brugal XV, 🥃 George Dickel Barrel Select, 🥃 George Dickel Bottled in Bond, 🥃 George Dickel No. 12, 🥃 George Dickel No. 8, 🥃 Knockando, 🥃 Paddy, 🥃 Royal Salute, 🥃 Seagram's Seven Crown, 🥃 Buchanan's, 🥃 Cruzan, 🥃 Hine, 🥃 Midleton Very Rare, 🥃 Olmeca, 🥃 Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey, 🥃 Blenders Pride, 🥃 Connemara, 🥃 Herradura, 🥃 Macieira, 🥃 Powers, 🥃 Royal Challenge, 🥃 Stock, 🥃 Barceló, 🥃 Blanton's, 🥃 Penderyn, 🥃 Royal Salute 21 Year Old Malts Blend, 🥃 Royal Salute 21 Year Old Signature Blend, 🥃 Royal Salute 38 Year Old Stone of Destiny, 🥃 Barceló Añejo, 🥃 Barceló Blanco Añejado, 🥃 Barceló Gran Añejo, 🥃 Barceló Imperial, 🥃 Božkov Republica Reserva, 🥃 Knockando 12 Year Old, 🥃 Knockando 15 Year Old, 🥃 Knockando 18 Year Old, 🥃 Knockando 21 Year Old, 🥃 Blenders Pride Reserve Collection, 🥃 McDowell's No.1 Celebration Rum, 🥃 McDowell's No.1 Reserve Whisky, 🥃 Royal Challenge American Pride, 🥃 Royal Challenge Whisky, 🥃 Connemara 12 Year, 🥃 Connemara Cask Strength, 🥃 Connemara Original, 🥃 Nonino AnticaCuvée Riserva, 🥃 Macieira Five Star, 🥃 Olmeca Altos Añejo, 🥃 Olmeca Altos Reposado, 🥃 Olmeca Reposado, 🥃 Uncle Nearest 1884 Small Batch Whiskey, 🥃 Uncle Nearest Straight Rye Whiskey, 🥃 Herradura Añejo, 🥃 Herradura Legend, 🥃 Herradura Reposado, 🥃 Buchanan's Special Reserve 18, 🥃 Cruzan Aged Dark Rum, 🥃 Cruzan Aged Light Rum, 🥃 Hine Cigar Reserve XO, 🥃 Hine XO 1er Cru, 🥃 Aultmore, 🥃 Benrinnes, 🥃 Blair Athol, 🥃 Craigellachie, 🥃 Dufftown Distillery, 🥃 Fettercairn, 🥃 Glen Elgin, 🥃 Linkwood, 🥃 Royal Lochnagar, 🥃 Speyburn, 🥃 Balblair, 🥃 Benromach, 🥃 Bladnoch, 🥃 Cragganmore, 🥃 GlenAllachie, 🥃 Hakushu, 🥃 Longmorn, 🥃 Tobermory, 🥃 Deanston, 🥃 Dos Hombres, 🥃 Macduff, 🥃 1800 Tequila, 🥃 Diplomático, 🥃 Highland Park, 🥃 Nikka, 🥃 1800 Añejo, 🥃 1800 Cristalino, 🥃 1800 Reposado, 🥃 Benromach Contrasts: Organic, 🥃 Diplomático Mantuano, 🥃 Diplomático Planas, 🥃 Diplomático Reserva Exclusiva, 🥃 Elijah Craig 18 Year Old Single Barrel, 🥃 Highland Park 15 Year Old Viking Heart, 🥃 Jim Beam Double Oak, 🥃 Michter's US★1 American Whiskey, 🥃 Nikka Coffey Malt, 🥃 Nikka From The Barrel, 🥃 Miyagikyo Single Malt, 🥃 Yoichi Single Malt, 🥃 Bladnoch Liora, 🥃 Hakushu 18 Years Old, 🥃 Hakushu 25 Years Old, 🥃 Aultmore 12 Year Old, 🥃 Aultmore 18 Year Old, 🥃 GlenAllachie 12 Year Old, 🥃 GlenAllachie 18 Year Old, 🥃 GlenAllachie 8 Year Old, 🥃 The Deveron 12 Year Old, 🥃 The Deveron 18 Year Old, 🥃 Craigellachie 13 Year Old, 🥃 Craigellachie 17 Year Old, 🥃 Craigellachie 23 Year Old, 🥃 The Singleton of Dufftown 12 Year Old, 🥃 The Singleton of Dufftown 15 Year Old, 🥃 The Singleton of Dufftown 18 Year Old, 🥃 Speyburn 10 Year Old, 🥃 Speyburn 15 Year Old, 🥃 Speyburn 18 Year Old, 🥃 Speyburn Bourbon Cask, 🥃 Speyburn Rum Cask Finish, 🥃 Deanston 12 Year Old, 🥃 Deanston 18 Year Old, 🥃 Deanston Virgin Oak, 🥃 Auchroisk, 🥃 Ben Nevis, 🥃 Dailuaine, 🥃 Glen Ord, 🥃 Glenglassaugh, 🥃 Glengyle, 🥃 Knockdhu, 🥃 Royal Brackla, 🥃 Tamnavulin, 🥃 Teaninich, 🥃 Abhainn Dearg, 🥃 Allt-a-Bhainne, 🥃 Amaro, 🥃 American Malt Whisky, 🥃 Marula Cream Liqueur, 🥃 Age statement (age on the label), 🥃 Applejack, 🥃 Grogue, 🥃 Ostfriesischer Korngenever (East Frisian grain genever), 🥃 Ratafia, 🥃 Angels' share, 🥃 Caña, 🥃 Armenian brandy, 🥃 Bacanora, 🥃 Kentucky Bourbon, 🥃 Linie Aquavit, 🥃 Absinthe de Pontarlier, 🥃 Barbados Rum, 🥃 Old Crow Bourbon, 🥃 Crow 86, 🥃 Mortlach 12 Wee Witchie, 🥃 Mortlach 16 Distiller's Dram, 🥃 Mortlach 20 Cowie's Blue Seal, 🥃 BenRiach The Original Ten, 🥃 Tomatin Legacy, 🥃 Redbreast 12 Year Old Cask Strength, 🥃 Redbreast 12 Year Old, 🥃 Redbreast 15 Year Old, 🥃 Redbreast 18 Year Old, 🥃 Redbreast 21 Year Old, 🥃 Tanduay Double Rum, 🥃 Tanduay Gold, 🥃 Tanduay Silver, 🥃 Evan Williams 1783 Small Batch, 🥃 Evan Williams Black Label, 🥃 Evan Williams Bottled-in-Bond, 🥃 Evan Williams Single Barrel Vintage, 🥃 Glen Garioch 12 Years Old, 🥃 Glen Garioch Founder's Reserve, 🥃 Haig Club, 🥃 Haig Dimple 15 Year Old, 🥃 Haig Gold Label, 🥃 Angostura 1824, 🥃 Angostura 1919, 🥃 Angostura 3 Year Old, 🥃 Angostura 5 Year Old, 🥃 Angostura 7 Year Old, 🥃 Mackmyra Brukswhisky, 🥃 MACK by Mackmyra, 🥃 Mackmyra Svensk Ek, 🥃 Mackmyra Svensk Rök, 🥃 Old Pulteney 12 Year Old, 🥃 Old Pulteney 15 Year Old, 🥃 Old Pulteney 18 Year Old, 🥃 Black Dog Black Reserve, 🥃 Black Dog Gold Reserve 12 Year Old, 🥃 Black Dog Reserve 18 Year Old, 🥃 Black Dog Triple Gold Reserve, 🥃 The Glenturret 10 Year Old Peat Smoked, 🥃 The Glenturret 12 Year Old, 🥃 The Glenturret 15 Year Old, 🥃 The Glenturret 7 Year Old Peat Smoked, 🥃 The Glenturret Triple Wood, 🥃 Sauza Conmemorativo Añejo, 🥃 Sauza Signature Blue, 🥃 The Glenrothes 15 Year Old, 🥃 The Glenrothes 18 Year Old, 🥃 The Glenrothes 25 Year Old, 🥃 Aguardiente de sidra de Asturias, 🥃 Bardstown, 🥃 Blended Grain Scotch Whisky, 🥃 Blending, 🥃 Bois Ordinaires, 🥃 Bons Bois, 🥃 Borderies, 🥃 Bottled in Bond, 🥃 Brandy del Penedés, 🥃 Brandy italiano, 🥃 Brinjevec, 🥃 Calvados Domfrontais, 🥃 Calvados Pays d'Auge, 🥃 Cantueso Alicantino, 🥃 Charanda, 🥃 Aprikot trentino, 🥃 Fernet, 🥃 Fine Bordeaux, 🥃 Fine de Bourgogne, 🥃 Fins Bois, 🥃 Fränkischer Obstler, 🥃 Fränkisches Kirschwasser, 🥃 Fränkisches Zwetschgenwasser, 🥃 Distillato di mele trentino, 🥃 Emsländer Korn, 🥃 Ettaler Klosterlikör, 🥃 Breton cider brandy (Eau-de-vie de cidre de Bretagne), 🥃 Normandy cider brandy (Eau-de-vie de cidre de Normandie), 🥃 Maine cider brandy (Eau-de-vie de cidre du Maine), 🥃 Marne wine spirit (Eau-de-vie de vin de la Marne), 🥃 Côtes-du-Rhône wine spirit (Eau-de-vie de vin des Côtes-du-Rhône), 🥃 Bugey wine spirit (Eau-de-vie de vin originaire du Bugey), 🥃 Languedoc wine spirit (Eau-de-vie de vin originaire du Languedoc), 🥃 Genièvre Flandre Artois, 🥃 Genziana trentina, 🥃 Georgian brandy, 🥃 Grande Champagne, 🥃 Hrvatska stara šljivovica, 🍷 Amontillado, 🍷 Sherry, 🥃 Lincoln County Process, 🥃 Rhum de la Martinique, 🥃 Master blender, 🥃 Kirsch Friulano, 🥃 Mizunara, 🥃 Petite Champagne, 🥃 Pfälzer Weinbrand, 🥃 Pommeau de Bretagne, 🥃 Sherry butt, 🥃 Loveshka slivova rakya, 🥃 Troyanska slivova rakya, 🥃 Rhum des Antilles françaises, 🥃 Ron de Guatemala, 🥃 Ron de Venezuela, 🥃 Rum da Madeira, 🥃 Schwarzwälder Kirschwasser, 🥃 Schwarzwälder Mirabellenwasser, 🥃 Schwarzwälder Zwetschgenwasser, 🥃 Slavonska šljivovica, 🥃 Sliwovitz del Friuli-Venezia Giulia, 🥃 Pommeau de Normandie, 🥃 Pommeau du Maine, 🥃 Ratafia Catalana, 🥃 Ratafia Ciociara, 🥃 Śliwowica łącka, 🥃 Țuică de Argeș, 🥃 Țuică Zetea de Medieșu Aurit, 🥃 Țuică, 🥃 Südtiroler Enzian, 🥃 Wachauer Weinbrand, 🥃 Williams friulano, 🥃 Taiwanese whisky, 🥃 Tennessee whiskey, 🥃 Tequila añejo, 🥃 Tequila extra añejo, 🥃 Tequila reposado, 🥃 Wheat whiskey, 🥃 Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009, 🥃 Somerset Cider Brandy, 🥃 Rosebank, 🥃 Teeling Single Grain, 🥃 Monkey Shoulder Smokey Monkey, 🥃 Monkey Shoulder The Original, 🥃 Aberfeldy 12 Year Old, 🥃 Aberfeldy 16 Year Old, 🥃 Aberfeldy 21 Year Old, 🥃 Aberfeldy 25 Year Old, 🥃 Auchentoshan 12 Year Old Double Cask, 🥃 Auchentoshan 18 Year Old, 🥃 Auchentoshan American Oak, 🥃 Auchentoshan Sherry Cask Finish, 🥃 Auchentoshan Three Wood, 🥃 Cardhu 12 Year Old, 🥃 Cardhu 15 Year Old, 🥃 Cardhu 18 Year Old, 🥃 Cardhu Amber Rock, 🥃 Cardhu Gold Reserve, 🥃 Glengoyne 10 Year Old, 🥃 Glengoyne 12 Year Old, 🥃 Glengoyne 15 Year Old, 🥃 Glengoyne 18 Year Old, 🥃 Glengoyne 21 Year Old, 🥃 Glenkinchie 12 Year Old, 🥃 Glenkinchie Distillers Edition, 🥃 Loch Lomond 12 Year Old, 🥃 Loch Lomond 18 Year Old, 🥃 Loch Lomond Original, 🥃 Loch Lomond Single Grain - Packed in
- 🥃 Calvados
- Works with
- 🍷 Cooper
- Part of
- 🍾 Wine containers, glassware and serving, ⚗️ How spirits are made
- Wine and milk
- 🧀 Bryndza, 🧀 Feta
Frequently asked questions
Why is wine aged in oak barrels?
Air gets in through joints and wood, which steadies the colour and shifts astringency, while the wood adds tannins and aromatic compounds. [1]
How is French oak different from American oak in wine?
In one trial with oak chips, French oak gave smoky, liquorice and toasty notes, American gave vanilla, toast and cocoa. [1]
Does American oak let in as much air as French oak?
Across 214 American oak staves the oxygen transmission rate varied widely and averaged about 68% below reported figures for French oak. [2]
How big is a barrique?
The Bordeaux barrel holds 225 litres. [1]
Is it true that an old barrel gives the wine nothing?
Not exactly: the number of earlier uses is one of the factors that decide how much the wood contributes, and a used barrel gives less than a new one. [1]
Comparisons
What to read next
- 🧀 Feta — A brined cheese made from sheep's milk (up to 30% goat's milk allowed), a protected Greek name.
- 🧀 Bryndza — Bryndza is a natural white spreadable sheep's cheese from Slovakia, made by milling matured lump cheese and salting it.
- 🥃 Brandy de Jerez — Spanish brandy from the Jerez area, aged by the solera system in former sherry casks: at least 36% ABV, up to 35 g/l of sugar; Solera, Reserva or Gran Reserva. EU geographical indication.
- 🥃 Calvados — Calvados is Normandy's apple brandy, made from distilled cider and aged at least 2 years in oak; sold at 40 % ABV (80 proof) or more.
- 🥃 Single Malt Scotch Whisky — Scotch from a single distillery: only malted barley, water and yeast, distilled in pot stills; at least 3 years in oak, 40% ABV (80 proof in the US) or more. Not the same as single cask.
Similar
🍷 Bag-in-box · 🍷 Clay wine vessels · 🍷 Cork (stopper) · 🍷 Wine bottle · 🍷 Concrete vat · 🍷 Wooden vat
What it includes
Sources
- Carpena M. et al. Wine Aging Technology: Fundamental Role of Wood Barrels. Foods 9(9):1160, 2020
- del Alamo-Sanza M. et al. Oxygen transmission rate in American oak barrel staves used for wine aging: influence of wood macrostructure. J Sci Food Agric, 2026