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Single malt whisky is typically stored in warehouses, such as dunnage warehouses, for maturation. During this time, the new make spirit ages in oak vessels, commonly known as casks. The maturation process is so crucial to whisky production that it’s often mandated by law; for instance, American whiskey must be matured in virgin oak casks, while Scotch whisky must be aged in specific types of oak casks, such as those previously used for sherry.
Despite certain regulations surrounding cask maturation, there is a considerable variety in the casks used, particularly in terms of size. Cask capacities generally range from 200 to 650 liters.
Casks Used to Make Scotch
The three most common casks for Scotch maturation reflect both legal requirements and the availability of these casks.
- Barrels: These can hold approximately 190-220 liters of whisky (120-140 liters of pure alcohol) and are sometimes referred to as American standard barrels or bourbon barrels. Barrels are a by-product of the bourbon industry, which requires the use of virgin oak. Although American distilleries cannot reuse these casks, they are widely repurposed in the Scotch industry.
- Hogsheads: With a capacity of approximately 225-250 liters of whisky (142-185 liters of pure alcohol), hogsheads are about 20-25% larger than barrels. They are often constructed from staves of bourbon barrels, reassembled by coopers into this larger format. Hogsheads may also have previously held other liquids, such as sherry, leading to the term ‘sherry hogshead’.
- Butts: These casks can hold approximately 475-500 liters of whisky (302-350 liters of pure alcohol), making them twice the size of hogsheads and two and a half times the size of barrels. Butts are commonly used for maturing sherry, and, similar to how the Scotch industry reuses bourbon barrels, Scottish distilleries import butts from sherry bodegas.
Different cask sizes not only result in varying amounts of whisky but also influence maturation times. Smaller casks like barrels offer a higher wood-to-spirit ratio, meaning more surface area for interaction, which accelerates the maturation process. Conversely, larger casks like butts have a lower wood-to-spirit ratio, resulting in a slower and more gradual maturation period.
Additional Whisky Cask Sizes
In addition to barrels, hogsheads, and butts, there are other types of casks used in whisky maturation. Each type varies in capacity, typical maturation periods, and sometimes flavor profiles, influenced by the previous contents of the cask (e.g., sherry versus port).
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Whisky Cask Sizes
While barrels, hogsheads, and butts are the three most common casks used for whisky maturation, there are other cask types as well. Each type has a different capacity, typical maturation period, and sometimes a unique flavor profile (such as sherry versus port).
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