Purchasing a cask: bourbon or french oak?

[claretabroad]

1st post so hi everyone!

A group of us are about to purchase a cask from the lovely and enthusiastic folk at Bruichladdich. We have been given the choice of bourbon or petrus french oak for the cask. We are looking to let it mature for 18-20 yrs and are thinking about also using a finishing cask. Bourbon is the safe bet for the 1st cask but I'm very interested in the french oak. I've been doing some research and have come across some articles that discuss the potentially overpowering nature of 1st fill french oak. What are your experiences of the oaked type of whisky? Which type of cask would you go for?

Thanks.

[Alastair]

Hi claretabroad, and welcome to the forum

Personally i wouldnt go for the French oak especially for the 18-20 year period you are thinking about maturing it for. i think the french oak would be too much for my taste after 20 years, but it may suit you and your group. My preference would be a bourbon cask and perhaps decide if a finishing cask should be used closer to the time when you will be thinking of botlling it, i would decide about a finishing cask after sampling the cask, but i can never resist a sherried finish but again that is just personal taste.

Alastair

[Charlie]

Hi and welcome to the forum

I believe two of the choices Bruichladdich offer are a fresh Bourbon barrel or a Rivesaltes Hogshead French oak barrel. I dont think think one choice is really any better than another, it really just depends on your groups preference. The Bourbon barrel will let more of the character of the Laddie whisky shine through as it does not have as big an influence on the whisky as the French oak. The French oak barrel will certainly produce a more complex whisky with an more obvious influence on the whisky from the oak. The Rivesaltes cask that Bruichladdich offer have previously held Rivesaltes wine which is a sweet red wine which is produced the same way as sherry so if this is your choice of barrel you will also have the wine influence as well as the French oak. My choice would be the French oak.

Charlie

[Big Mac]

I would say go for the bourbon cask and a finishing cask if that is what you want but i think 1st fill french oak would be quite a powerful wood and may be too much for the 20 year period you plan to mature your whisky for. Personally if it was for myself i would use the bourbon cask and a sherry finish.

Mac

[McKay]

Hi

Have you and your group tried the Glenlivet 15 year old French Oak. It is a good example of what french oak can do, although it is a Speyside malt and not an Islay it still gives you an idea of the woody characteristics and complexity the French oak gives to the spirit. Personally i like the influence the french oak has but i wouldnt want a barrel full of it.

McKay

[claretabroad]

Thanks for the feedback everyone, most appreciated. There is a tasting session planned in a couple of weeks where much comparison will be made. Cheers for the heads up on the Genlivet French Oak. It shall be added to the menu.

[Rare Cask]

Hi,

Personally, I would definitely keep away from any wine casks. European oak often overpowers spirit at any age. The number of samples that I have tasted where vanilla notes have turned to sawdust is amazing. Spirit does well in bourbon casks. The reason that there are so many distillers filling into wine casks at the moment is because of the price and availability of ex bourbon barrels.

David

[Keith]

Hi

I would stay away from the french oak also as it coud be a bit unpredictable, as said above it can totally overpower the spirit leaving you with a crap whisky that you have paid a lot of money for, i wouldnt risk it. A bourbon cask would be the best choice IMHO. Let us know what you decide.

Keith