The older the year on the bottle, the more people would be keen to purchase it because of this very conception. It doesn’t only apply to the vintage on wine.
Liquors are believed to get finer with time, accumulating a more robust flavour. Is this really the case?
Today we’re looking at whisky in particular. Does whisky really get better with age, or are there other factors that come into play? Read on to find out!
Maturing whiskey in oak barrels over time allows complex flavors to develop, resulting in a smoother, more nuanced drink that can be truly savored. It is believed that using certain types of barrel wood, as well as age and location can also influence the flavor profile of aged whiskey.
How is whisky aged?
Distilling whisky only takes around one week. The part of the process that takes time is aging.
Whisky is aged for at least three years, but many bottles are aged for much longer than that.
In oak barrels, whisky can be aged for anywhere between 3 to 25 years, and sometimes even longer!
Keeping distilled whisky in these barrels will result in a smoother-tasting drink.
In addition to cask aging, whisky will continue to age as it sits in the bottle, whether it’s been opened or kept closed.
What happens during the whisky aging process?
When whisky is poured into the oak barrels, the oak functions like a strainer. It strains out smaller molecules, entrapping elements of methanol and butanol.
When these elements are removed from the liquid, the whisky tastes much smoother.
Additionally, all that time in contact with oak wood means that the whisky adapts the color, taste, and odor of the barrel.
This is why some whiskies will have a charred flavour when aged in charred oaks, and most whiskies have a general woodiness to the palate.
On top of that, alcohol content reduces overtime in oak barrels.
Does whisky ALWAYS get better with age??? (blind pours and brain scans)
FAQ
Can you drink 500 year old whiskey?
Does whiskey get better with age in the bottle?
Is 60 year old whiskey still good?
Can you drink 70 year old whiskey?
Does whiskey get better with age?
Whiskey does get better with age as long it’s aged in the barrel and is not over-aged. Unlike wine, its maturity stops once bottled – no more added flavor and may lead to expiration over time. When choosing a wine or whiskey, you should remember that it should be aged for a more extended period to ensure better flavor.
What are the disadvantages of having whiskey?
Highest percentage of alcohol in whiskey makes people lose track while drinking it, which lead to alcohol poisoning, which can induce difficulties in breathing, acid reflux and elevated heart rate. People under the influence of alcohol often make rash, risky or illogical decisions that makes them impaired while judging things. Constant abuse of whiskey can lead to damage in metabolism. The prolonged intake of whiskey leads to cirrhosis of liver. Large intake during pregnancy cause spontaneous abortion and mental or physical disabilities for the fetus. Large and regular intake of whiskey can cause stroke, serious injuries of heart muscle, and in some cases death.
Does old whiskey taste better than younger whiskey?
Like wine, you would all agree that old whiskies taste better than younger whiskey. However, this is not the sole opinion, as one’s taste is subjective. A whiskey matured for more years and even decades will often yield more complex and nuanced flavors than a hypothetical bottle that has been stored for 1 to 2 years.
Why is whiskey aged?
Whiskey is aged to get the familiar color and flavor everyone knows. When the whiskey enters the wooden barrel it is a transparent, moonshine-like spirit. Over the years, flavors and color are absorbed from the wood of the cask into the whiskey. Older whiskeys generally are darker because they have been in the cask longer.