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!
For sure. aging directly improve the taste of whisky by neutralise nasty tasting elements and infuse it with extra flavour. generally speaking 60-70% of the flavour comes from oak barrel used to age whisky, and it takes a long time to get there.
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.
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.
Does WHISKY’S AGE Even Matter?
FAQ
Does whiskey taste better with age?
Is a 30 year old bottle of whiskey still good?
When you get older does alcohol taste better?
What does 50 year old whiskey taste like?
Does whiskey improve with age?
Another big question we hear all the time is ‘does whiskey improve with age’, and with this one we totally understand the confusion. Some believe that the older the age statement (the length of time the whiskey has matured in a barrel) the better the whiskey is, but this is simply not true for everyone. Quality and age aren’t interlinked.
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.
Why is whiskey aged?
Because these barrels contain seasonings, flavours and aromas which are pulled from the wood into the liquid over time during the whiskey maturation process to give us that distinct whiskey flavour. Cool, huh? But,
Should you age your whiskey?
If you’re looking to expand your whiskey collection, don’t let age be the only thing you pay attention to. Once upon a time, whiskey aging felt fairly straightforward: The spirit, made from a mash of grain, was distilled and then sent to repose for a short or long period of time in a wood barrel, usually oak.