Bourbon is a corn-based whiskey available in different flavours. You will enjoy the notes of caramel and vanilla while drinking bourbon. But, should you buy aged bourbon? Does aged bourbon give you a unique experience? Most consumers claim that aged bourbon is better than its younger counterparts. The ageing process delivers more complexities and character to the drink.
Does Bourbon Give A Better Taste With Age?
Ageing in the barrel helps in making the bourbon’s taste more complex. The drink would be quite different from bottled bourbon. The spirit should undergo the maturity process for at least 2 years, and there is a strict rule of mentioning it in the label. If the bourbon whiskey is aged for over 2 years, the distilled spirit absorbs the wooden barrel’s flavours. You will enjoy a better flavour while sipping the drink.
Oak barrels are used for maturing the bourbon as they deliver a distinct taste and colour to the spirit. With the extensive ageing, bourbon retains a deeper flavour and colour. If the whiskey is matured in charred oak barrels, you will experience hints of oak and caramel. The quality of the drink will be better as maturation affects:
- Flavours
- Colour stabilisation
- Complexity in aromas
However, when bourbon is packaged in a bottle, its taste will not get better. It is also true for other distilled spirits. If you keep the bottles sealed, the drink will retain the original taste. But, there will be no improvement in the taste and flavour.
What Is The Maximum Maturation Time For Bourbon?
The ageing process for bourbon should not be too long. Longer ageing will cause the spirit to lose its complex taste. What’s more, exposure to the barrel in warm climatic regions will damage the taste. Higher air temperatures accelerate the ageing process. So, the maturation period must not exceed 15 years to avoid the bitter taste.
More Rules For Ageing Bourbon
- The charred oak barrels for ageing should be new.
- American white oak is best for your wooden barrel.
- At least an 80 proof is essential for bottling bourbon.
- While pouring into the barrel, the proof must be less than 125.
Although ageing improves the bourbon’s complexity and flavour, some factors affect the maturation process and the result. For instance, the environmental conditions, the barrel quality, and the distillation technique will influence the product. Careful distillation helps with well-balanced bourbon whiskey that ages uniformly and develops the best flavours. Thus, the combination of different factors affects the character and quality of your spirit. Ageing is undoubtedly the most significant factor for bourbon makers.
Many bourbon lovers like to have vibrant and bold flavours of younger versions. They want to enjoy the intensity and natural sweetness of the spirit.
Conclusion
Bourbon tastes better with age. Longer ageing does not make the drink go bad. However, it may cause the loss of aroma and flavour over time. Furthermore, if you store bourbon improperly, it will become spoiled and contaminated. So, check the ageing information while buying bourbon whiskies from Liquorland.
