Rejuvenated casks, yea or nay?

[bifter]

"rejuvenated", "recharred", "reconditioned", I'm seeing a lot of such terms being used to describe barrels and hoggies that have been pressed back into use when they might ordinarily have been considered to have reached the end of their useful lives (some may say 'clapped out').

The whisky industry is full of elusion and obfuscation, for all I know this practice could have been going on the whole time but I gather some new techniques were discovered in the last decade or so, so perhaps we are seeing the beginning of a flood of such casks. Talisker Storm, anCnoc Rutter and, launched today, Haig Club, are some of the expressions that I have noted lay claim to such cask treatment. I wonder why they do so as, while full disclosure is nice, they probably aren't obligated to tell us. The accepted wisdom is that, after a few fills, the casks lose the potential to mature the whisky, indeed much whisky is married in 'inactive' casks. So the idea of "reconditioned" casks sounds about as enticing as 'sloppy seconds' and, from my experiences so far, it certainly seems to lead to a more muted wood influence.

What are your thoughts on this trend?
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"Whisky is liquid sunshine."
[George Bernard Shaw]

[Alexppp]

Sorry for my ignorance, but how exactly does one 'rejuvenate' a cask?

[John]

Rejuvenating barrels has been practiced for many decades, barrels are expensive and therefore can often have a lifespan up to 50 years, this is not a new practice. I dont see any elusion and obfuscation, barrels have always been "rejuvenated" "recharred" and "reconditioned" and these are not new terms to describe the process which has always been common practice, it is simply part of the Scotch whisky industry and whisky making process.

[William]

[Alexppp]

Thanks William. I was aware that casks are reused but didn't really know about the methods involved in rejuvenated casks. A few months ago there was a great demonstration of the difference between first-fill and refill casks at a Glenfarclas tasting - the difference between a first fill cask and a fifth fill cask of a similar age whisky was startling.

[bifter]

[GBrough]

Have never noticed anything bad from rejuvenating cask, a first fill does pop more than the when you used rejuvenated cask.
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The Laga 16.

It even tastes like an ashtray-WM

[Archer]

Dont many distileries colour code the cask ends to let them know how many times a cask is used and making it easy to pick out casks in the warehouse. This makes it easier to find young whisky in old casks that has seen better days and it will be sent for blending.

I would say you would be more likely to come across whisky from a tired cask from an independent bottler as the the big players will simply dump it into a blend or pass it on to a whisky broker where indie bottlers can get hold of them.

[bifter]

[albo]

This is the sort of thread that makes this forum such a useful and interesting place to be. Thanks to those who have contributed meaningfully.

[Keith]

Great info William.

[Samson]

I had no idea that at one point they actually pressurized sherry into the casks to rejuvenate them, i wonder how well this would have worked, i doubt it would have been a great success, i guess thats why they have stopped it. cheers William for the info.

[Big Mac]

[Crane]

I am always wary of older whiskies of 20 years and more that have then had a cask finish i always think that they have found a duff whisky which has either spent to much time in a duff cask or has been overpowered by the oak cask and they give it a finish to try to rejuvenate the whisky and put some life and character back into it. After 20 odd years in a cask you have to ask yourself why they have to then give it a finish

[5-12-1908]

'sloppy seconds'

Well my whisky will never taste the same again!!


Dont see the need for these casks if theres plenty of "real" ones around. More technology for technologies sake?