Whisky Works – Aging has begun

The first step of the Whisky Works project involved swelling the oak barrel with water for three days. Andrew emptied the water yesterday and filled the barrel with the provided whisky. The recovered water, pictured here, is light amber, almost the colour of urine. Not exactly enticing, but some scotch drinkers have strange ideas about what constitutes potable.

We once attended a scotch nosing hosted by now-retired Master of the Quaich, Anthony Burnet. He walked us through six scotches, easing us from smooth, rich Glenmorangie Sherry Finish to the smoky, peaty big gun — Ardbeg. As Master Burnet put it, on the nose you get “essence of hospital corridors and used bandages”. Makes you want to jump in with both feet, doesn’t it?

Back to matters at hand: So we can judge how much the whisky matures, let it be known that the whisky entered the process very pale and clear. It had a slightly smoky, peaty nose, but on the tongue was moderately sweet, with a trace of licorice fighting through the bog. At cask strength, it went down like fire.

And what’s floating in the discarded water? The literature says it’s flecks of wood and some of the char. Let’s hope it’s not used bandages.