Okay, we’re pulling your leg with the last one. But you know what’s the best way to avoid being caught clueless? Becoming “clue-more”.
Watch this week's episode of School of Spirits to learn more about the difference between ageing, maturing and finishing.
Like what you've watched? We have it in writing as well!
Aging and maturing
Remember “inheriting”, it’ll pop up again later. So, ageing is just getting silver hair, bad hips and a tendency to scare people off your lawn. Maturing, on the other hand, is reading books, going to theatre, and hanging out with fine wood.
Then, there’s finishing
It may be an ex-Bourbon cask or a cask that used to hold Pedro Ximenez Sherry. Whisky inherits all the marvelous flavors and aromas of those liquids caught in the wood.
It’s like spending a few months in Europe or Japan, experiencing new cultures, and the memories you take home affect your flavor.
What’s the deal with all this wood, though?
Whisky interacts with wood on an Ant-Man level and a lot of complicated chemistry voodoo happens, making your favorite Whisky sweet, spicy or oaky.
First, your offspring matures with the help of some alcohol for a few years, before going for a semester abroad in Paris to expand its horizons and finish off its character with some other booze.
Cheers to sophisticated and well-traveled Whiskies!
