What Happens As Decades Pass In A Whiskey Barrel?
Evolution of Flavor As A Whiskey Ages "Spirit character" defines the nature of the new, unaged spirit. Excerpted from Tasting Whiskey by Lew Bryson. Illustration by Andrew Heath. Used with permission of Storey Publishing. When The Glenlivet’s 50-year-old single malt scotch whisky was freshly distilled in 1964, the new spirit would have been perfectly clear in color and have tasted cereal-rich and slightly smoky from the smoked malted barley from which it’s made; brightly fruity; and slightly solvent-like. Interesting, but needing some time to mellow out in a barrel. Fifty years later, the liquid is a deep amber color and the smoke aroma is gone; the bright fruit notes have matured into richer baked fruit notes; there are toffee, honey, caramel, and chocolate characteristics; and there...