Can vodka be aged in oak?

Well, technically, it’s oak-flavored vodka. And more technically, it’s not a flavored vodka—rather, it’s a vodka that’s been aged in oak barrels (not unlike a bourbon—or a Scotch, for that matter), which allows it to pick up that telltale oaky flavor.

Can you put vodka in an oak barrel?

Good things happen when you rest vodka on oak. Although vodka purists may scoff––whiskey purists, too––distillers are experimenting with vodka rested on oak, be it barrels or chips. These formerly white spirits absorb color and flavor from the wood to become a different beast entirely.

Can you age vodka like whiskey?

New Barrel-Aged Vodka You already love a range of liquors that clock time in barrels—whiskey, rum, brandy and, recently, even gin. But traditionally, straight vodka has always been barrel-free. “It mellows the vodka heat a bit, much like whiskey, and gives you so much more flavor to play with,” Salicetti says.

What liquor is aged in oak barrels?

If you drink wine and spirits, odds are they’re aged in oak barrels. Bourbon, Scotch, Tennessee whiskey, cognac, and some gins spend time maturing in these barrels as part of the aging process. Many reds and some whites age in oak. It’s a part of the process that gives these beverages their character and unique flavor.

What alcohol is aged in oak barrels?

You can age almost any alcohol in oak barrels including beer, dry wine, port, sherry, tequila, brandy, rum, whiskey, and many more. Even you can age balsamic vinegar and hot sauce in oak barrels if you want.

What happens if you barrel age vodka?

What happens when you age vodka in oak casks like you would with whisky? The vodka will eventually acquire a brown color and some of the tastes of the barrel(s). Over time it will taste somewhat more like bourbon or whiskey.

Does vodka have to be aged?

It is no longer defined as “to be without distinctive character, aroma, taste, or color.” The law includes other requirements: Vodka cannot be aged in wood; it may or may not be charcoal filtered; and it must meet minimum distillation and bottling proofs.

Does vodka get better with age?

No, vodka really doesn’t go bad. If the bottle stays unopened, vodka shelf life is decades. After about 40 or 50 years, an unopened bottle of vodka may have lost enough flavor and alcohol content—due to a slow, consistent oxidation—to be considered expired. But it could take 100 years, too.

Does whiskey proof increase with age?

The proof in your barrel has now (most likely) increased from 103 to 110 – as proof almost always increases during the aging process.