Oak

Understanding the reactions that occur in a barrel can help distillers get the most from their cellar environment and cask choices.

With almost 100 species of oak just in the United States, distillers are looking at varieties beyond the traditional American white oak to explore their impact on spirits.

Planting trees is critical to alleviating climate change, and wood is critical to the spirits industry. With support from customers, distilleries are giving to programs that plant more trees—often for a buck a bottle.

Many American whiskey producers are convinced the variation in the oak they use is noticeable and important to their spirit’s character. Here’s a look at the facts.