As stated in the rules, bourbon must be aged in a charred, new-oak barrel. Many consider the barrels to be downright magical. Charring the wooden staves inside each one releases faint flavors of toasted caramel and vanilla that infuse beautifully with the bourbon. Bourbon barrels can only be used once for bourbon, but scotch producers are happy to have them after. They age their scotch in used bourbon barrels to create distinct scotch flavors. Same goes for Irish Whiskey. At Holy Ghost Distillery, we age Rum and even Apple Brandy in our used Bourbon Barrels.
