There are many factors that influence the flavour of a whisky – arguably the most important being the cask type. Historically, a multitude of wood varieties were used for whisky maturation, however, in an effort to protect the heritage of Scottish whisky, nowadays only oak can be used to make whisky casks.
Due to its tough but malleable nature, oak is a great option for the construction of water-tight casks. It is also high in natural oils which gives the whisky its sweet, vanilla-like flavour.
However, there are some drawbacks to using only oak casks. Although this wood created a consistent flavour, most oak species are quite tough which lengthens the maturation process. Along with this, distilleries tend to lean into the previous filling of the casks to vary the flavour profile of their whiskies. Sherry and bourbon are very commonly used to create different, distinguishable flavours. Wines and rum casks, amongst others, are also used to create fruity and sweet notes yet the one constant has to be the wood type.
With the rise of new-world distilleries in recent years – distilleries that are not bound by the SWA’s (Scottish Whisky Association) regulations – we are seeing some new and exciting wood types being used to mature whisky. None more interesting than chestnut.
Agitator is the perfect example of one of these distilleries. Located in Sweden, Agitator is not restricted by the SWA to what wood they can use to produce their whisky. This contemporary distillery is striving to create the best whisky as they feel this title is still unclaimed.
Chestnut is a touch softer than oak meaning the flavours from the work are imparted into the maturing whisky faster. This allows Agitator distillery to release whisky at a younger age and with more flavour than if they were to use oak casks.
As you can imagine, chestnut creates a different flavour profile to traditional oak casks. Hazelnuts, pecan, roasted chestnuts, and cedar are just some of the additional notes that develop while maturing in chestnut casks.
The enhanced flavour profile and shortened maturation period aren't the only benefits of using Chestnut casks. Being the modern distillery that they are, Agitator are doing everything they can to protect the environment during their whisky production. Vacuum distillation and using renewable energy are some of the steps Agitator are taking to lower their environmental impact.
Due to the huge demand for oak created by the global whisky industry, some oak species such as white oak are at risk of being endangered. Using different woods like Chestnut decreases this burden on oak farming.
Whether chestnut matured whisky piques your interest due to its unique and robust flavour profile, or its environmental benefits, it's a dram every whisky lover should sample at some stage.
As we explore all the possibilities whisky can offer, let’s hope that there are a lot more diverse wood types used for maturation in the years to come.
You can find out more about our chestnut whisky by selecting the link below:
https://www.caskshare.com/caskshares/chestnut-cask-2018-11-14