Bourbon aged in light wave-treated barrels

Buffalo Trace Distillery has released two ‘experimental’ Bourbons aged in barrels treated with infrared light waves.

Buffalo Trace’s Experimental Collection Bourbons aged in infrared light wave barrels (Photo: Buffalo Trace)

The Kentucky distillery applied the light waves to barrels before charring, with the aim of “learning how new and different flavours can be drawn from the oak”. 

Working with barrel cooper Independent Stave Company in 2009, Buffalo Trace constructed eight special barrels. Initially each underwent the same process as standard Buffalo Trace barrels, with the staves being air-seasoned for six months before being made into barrels.

Then the barrels were divided into two groups and subjected to two different levels of infrared light waves. The first group of four barrels underwent 15 minutes of both short wave and medium wave frequency at 70% power. 

The second group of four barrels was subjected to 30 minutes of both short wave and medium wave frequency at 60% power.

The barrels were then given a 15-second char before finally being filled with Buffalo Trace’s Bourbon Mash #1.

After six-and-a-half years of ageing, the Bourbon from both barrels expressed distinct flavour notes of wood, caramel and vanilla, as well as pepper flavours drawn from the oak, Buffalo Trace said.

Another observation was that the short wave infrared light seemed to affect more of the inner layers of the wood, while the medium wave infrared light affected the surface and medium layers.   

The Bourbon from the 15-minute infrared light barrels are said to have a floral nose followed by a complex flavour profile in which “oak and tannins mingle with dry raisins and sweet caramel”. 

The 30-minute infrared light barrels are described as giving “strong wood notes complemented by a taste of dried fruit”, with a lingering finish leaving “a hint of cracked black pepper”. 

The barrels are part of more than 5,000 experimental barrels of whiskey ageing in the warehouses of Buffalo Trace Distillery in Kentucky. Each has unique characteristics. Experiments include unique mash bills, types of wood and different barrel toasts.

In order to further increase the scope of the experimental program, an entire microdistillery, named The Colonel EH Taylor Jr ‘OFC’ Micro Distillery, complete with cookers, fermenting tanks and a state-of-the-art micro still, has been constructed within Buffalo Trace Distillery.

The Experimental Collection is packaged in 375ml bottles, with six bottles from each infrared light experiment in a case. Both were bottled at 90% proof. 

Each label includes all relevant information unique to that barrel of whiskey. The whiskeys will be available in in US from late May.