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Buffalo Trace exposes Bourbon casks to infrared
By Amy HopkinsBuffalo Trace Distillery has continued its experimentation streak by releasing two Bourbons aged in barrels exposed to infrared light waves before charring.
Buffalo Trace has released the results of its experiment with infrared light waves on Bourbon barrelsWith the goal of learning how new and different flavours can be drawn from oak, the Frankfort KY distillery worked with cooperage the Independent Stave Company in 2009 to construct eight unique barrels.
The staves were open air seasoned for six months before being made into barrels, which were then divided into two groups and subjected to two different levels of infrared light waves.
The first group of four barrels underwent 15 minutes of both short wave and medium wave frequency at 70% power. The second group of four barrels was subjected to 30 minutes of both short wave and medium wave frequency at 60% power.
All barrels were then given a quick char before being filled with new make spirit.
According to Buffalo Trace, after six and a half years of ageing, the Bourbon from both barrels expressed different flavour profiles.
The distillery claims that “the short wave infrared light seemed to affect more of the inner layers of the wood, while the medium wave infrared light affected the surface and medium layers”.
The whiskey barrels exposed to 15 minutes of infrared light are said to have a floral nose and complex flavour profile of oak, tannins, dry raisins and sweet caramel. Meanwhile, the 30-minute infrared light barrels are described as having strong wood notes complemented by a taste of dried fruit and cracked black pepper finish.
The barrels are part of more than 5,000 experimental barrels of whiskey ageing in the warehouses of the Buffalo Trace Distillery.
Since the 1990s, Kentucky-based distillery Buffalo Trace has experimented with Bourbon distillation and ageing, opening its Warehouse X in 2013. This site allows master distiller Harlen Wheatley and his team to experiment with the affect environment has on maturing whiskey.
The new Experimental Collection is packaged in 375ml bottles, with six bottles from each infrared light experiment in a case. Bottled at 45% abv, each whiskey retails for approximately US$46.35 and will be available later this month.