Old Charter Oak Bourbon is made to tell those stories. In honor of the pivotal role, oak barrels play in the age-old tradition of bourbon-making, every bottle of Old Charter Oak is a testament to the unique oak tree that gave this spirit its character. The latest release from Buffalo Trace Distillery explores the oak tree varietals, Old Charter Oak collection, Spanish Oak Bourbon.
In the forest of northern Spain, the trees used in this year’s edition were made into seasoned staves and left outdoors to age.
“The whiskey extracts from the charred oak barrel exciting elements like eugenol, vanillin and whiskey lactone,” says Buffalo Trace Distillery Master Distiller Harlen Wheatley. “American Oak has higher proportions of vanillin and whiskey lactone, resulting in bourbon with a softer, sweeter taste and notes of vanilla and caramel. On the other hand, our Spanish Oak has more eugenol, meaning drier, spicier notes and flavors like clove are imparted onto the liquid. We specifically wanted to test Spanish Oak as part of this collection because of its connection to sherry, which is known to be a nuttier, fruitier spirit. We were curious how those flavors would impact the taste of whiskey, and we are very pleased with the result.”
Previous expressions in the Old Charter Oak series include Chinkapin Oak, Mongolian Oak, French Oak and Canadian Oak.
“A common misconception about the distilling process is that bourbon must be aged in new American Oak barrels,” Wheatley explains. “Though most bourbons mature in American White Oak barrels, federal regulations do not specify what type of oak the barrel must be, only that it must be a new, charred oak container. At Buffalo Trace Distillery, we are deeply committed to honoring the traditions of our category but also embracing change and pushing the limits of innovation to see where American whiskey can go in the future. Our Old Charter Oak collection is a superb example of trying new things and offering consumers and fans more ways to enjoy our award-winning portfolio of whiskeys.”
The edition hits select markets beginning in Spring 2023. The suggested retail price is $69.99 per 750 ml. bottle.
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