CHARACTERANDCOMPLEXITY
Compared to its younger and more direct counterparts, aged Bourbons are generally believed to offer more complexity and character, a deeper degree of smoothness, and a broader range of secondary and tertiary tasting notes. However, most whiskey aficionados will agree that, while Bourbon - like any fine spirit - can be aged almost indefinitely, the ones truly worth looking out for and adding to a home bar are those aged between 10 and 14 years. While some of the more renowned brands will frequently launch far older expressions, usually in a limited run of highly expensive bottles, it would be a misnomer to claim that all aged Bourbon is good Bourbon. The reasons for this are a little complicated. It would be forgivable to believe that the longer Bourbon sits in the barrel, the finer the drinking experience will be. After all, this seems to be the case with both Scotch and Japanese single malt whiskies. However, the heartlands of Bourbon in Kentucky and Tennessee
are about as far removed from the Scottish whisky regions and Japan’s mist-strewn mountain valleys, and these climatic differences and extreme summers and winters play a major role in how Bourbon matures. With the maturation process given a level of unpredictability as a result of the weather, and with the charred white oak barrels typically revealing bitter and sour notes (which, generally speaking, you don’t want present in your fine aged Bourbon) after approximately 15 years, the ‘sweet-spot’ of 10 to 14 years becomes a little more understandable. That’s not to say that a well-aged Bourbon has little to offer; master distillers have a knack for making the wood work in their favour, and a willingness to experiment and push boundaries can lead to beautiful results. However, in an industry where reliability and consistency still remains a significant selling factor, it’s understandable why few would be willing to take the risk.
AGED BOURBON IS VERYMUCHONTHE RISE
A new generation of whiskey drinkers is seeking out new flavors and an essence of authenticity.
27
T H E E V O L U T I O N O F A G E D B O U R B O N
L I F E S T Y L E
Made with FlippingBook Online newsletter