Whisky ageing:
the secret is in the barrels

What are the different types of kegs?

“It’s important to understand the difference between partial cask and maturation in the whisky making process. When part of the cask is passed, we take out a portion of the whisky and fill it into a freshly emptied casket, such as a tequila cask or rye casket. The mixture is then observed regularly to check for flavor development, as each barrel is unique, operates in a unique way, and does not reach the right flavor at a fixed time. This customization process takes place in the blending room.

“In the case of partial maturation, the entire maturation process of the blended wine is done in the same cast. The same is true for the Chivas Extra 13 Sherry Cask, a portion of which is aged for 13 years in first-filled Oloroso sherry casks.

“When learning about barrels, take into account the history of barrels. When using oak casks for a long maturation period (e.g. 15 years or more), a second or third refill allows the liquor to achieve a wonderful balance of flavours between the cask impact and the distillate (pre-maturation whisky) characteristics. If the distillate stays in the barrel for a long time in the first fill, the influence of the barrel will be too strong and will most likely dominate the flavor completely. However, if the aging time is short, the first barrel is ideal for bringing out the flavors of the cask quickly.”

Why is barreling so important for Chivas?

“Whether partially matured or casked, I wanted to bring out the character of Chivas whisky, rather than overpowering it or overloading its flavours. Especially with the Chivas Extra 13 series, I wanted to create a wine with a Chivas flavor, but to make it more three-dimensional.

“Each product in the Chivas Extra 13 collection has a unique base blend to bring out the final flavor after the barrel. Depending on the strength of the cask’s influence, we choose whether to partially cask or mature these whiskies. For example, you can’t fully mature a whisky in a cask or tequila cask because the influence is too strong and will completely overwrite the whiskey’s flavor. Everyone thinks of whisky as an extraordinarily strong drink, but it’s more refined than you think! Whisky complements spirits in perfect harmony.

“With all of our barreling, we wanted a nuanced taste; We wanted to bring an extra layer to the blend while maintaining the classic Chivas style. Chivas are known for their sweet and fruity aromas, and while you need a bit of oak nutty to add flavor, you won’t want to completely cover the original flavours with a strong cask. It’s all about striking the right balance.”

How much flavour does the barrel impart and why?

“The proportion of flavours affected by the cask depends on how long the whisky has matured, and the longer the whisky stays in the cask, the more flavours it absorbs from it. When matured for more than 15 years, about 50% of the flavour comes from the barrel. It also depends on the number of times the cask has been used, so if it’s the third, fourth or fifth fill, it won’t be rich, while the first time it will add a rich flavour.

“Some cask products in the Chivas Extra 13 range, such as the Chivas Extra 13 Tequila Cask, differ in that the whisky is matured for 13 years in traditional oak casks and then partially aged in other casks to add an extra layer. As a rough estimate, I would say that about 35-40% of the flavours come from the first 13 years of ageing, followed by a 10-20% boost from another cask. There are two phases to the process.”

How is aged Scotch whisky different from aged bourbon?

“Bourbon is often matured in raw American oak casks, which are barrels that have never been filled with other spirits. This means that barrels and wood greatly influence bourbon. Scotch whisky, on the other hand, uses casks that were once filled with liquor. It’s like the cask is ready for us, helping to remove the strong tannin oak and give our distillate a clearer finish. This also means that these casks have a sweet vanilla and toffee aroma that pairs perfectly with the sweetness of Speyside, the main ingredient in our blend.

“Our Chivas Extra 13 Bourbon Cask is partially matured in bourbon casks and is 13 years old. It’s not to make the whiskey taste bourbon taste, but to really highlight the sweetness and honey that are already present in the distillate.”