American Rye Whisky Cask
Barrel Profile
Different distilleries have unique approaches to using rye whisky casks, depending on their aging environment, mash bill, and experimentation with finishes.
This particular barrel has been used in Double Cask Aging, where rye is first matured in charred new oak barrels, then transferred to another set of new oak barrels with a different char level.
The double cask rye boasts a deep golden amber hue with inviting aromas of vanilla, caramel, and hints of prune, apricot, and rye spice. On the palate, an initial caramel sweetness is followed by notes of mint, clove, and cinnamon, leading to a warm, sweet finish with lingering flavours of caramel and butterscotch.
Ex-Rye Vs Ex-Bourbon Casks
Why use ex-American rye instead of the ex-bourbon casks Hobart Whisky are known to use for their whisky?
As you know, we love to mix things up, and Rye whiskey tends to extract more spice and herbal notes from the wood due to its grain profile, compared to bourbon’s sweeter corn-based mash.
Hobart Whisky enjoy experimenting with unique flavours we can draw from our barrels. This release will offer yet another unique twist to our whisky.
Wood Type & Construction
This barrel is coopered from American white oak. which is known for its ability to impart flavours of vanilla, oak tannins, spice and caramel.
Charring & Flavour Influences
What’s so great about aging in double casks?
By allowing rye whiskey to age at a medium to heavy char level a deeper oak influence emerges along with blanched caramel flavour. The second barrel offers a heavier char which cracks the barrel wood allowing the whisky a deeper interaction with the wood. Different char amounts impact the levels of flavour drawn from the wood.
Maturation & Climate Influence
Rye whisky matures faster in warmer climates due to greater wood interaction. This barrel is from a cooler region where rye is left to age longer as it develops complexity slowly.
As wood expands and contracts, whisky moves further into the wood, extracting vanillin, lignin, and lactones, which contributes to notable flavours like coconut, spice and vanilla.
How are ex American rye barrels normally reused?
American rye must be aged in new barrels, once emptied, these casks are often repurposed and we were lucky enough to end up with this one.
We could also use a barrel like this for aging rum (gives rum a dry spicy finish), tequila, or even beer (IPAs and barrel-aged stouts), adding depth to those spirits.
Some American Ex-Rye barrels are sent to Scotland, Ireland and Tasmania (to give a complexity of wood and spice) for whisky finishes.
Hobart Whisky enjoy experimenting with unique flavours we can draw from our barrels. This release will offer yet another unique twist to our whisky.