It turns out, the answer is the simple wooden barrel. Almost always made of oak, barrels have a long and fascinating history. First built and used by the Celts and Romans, they have held nearly ...

In order to legally claim the term "straight bourbon," distillers need to meet a long list of government-mandated ...

Watch skilled artisans select, shape, and assemble each wooden stave by hand, then toast and char the barrels to perfection ... Are Better Than Restaurant Made See the Birch Glacier collapse ...

Oak and wine were made for each other. The wood and how it is treated introduces flavors compounds and textures. Oak barrels allow slow oxygenation, which engenders complexity and depth.

"To make a great whiskey you have to start with a great distillate, a clear spirit. But then the magic comes from the barrel. The fact that it's new charred oak," Callaway said. "It's just ...