Independent Stave Company sources oak logs from all over the world to make world class spirit barrels. The most popular selections come from a multitude of states in the U.S. and from several different forests dotted throughout France. Both areas produce wonderful oak logs that make terrific barrels for aging spirits. Today we are venturing off the beaten path just a bit and exploring something different: European oak.
ISC Barrels Offers European Oak Barrels
With regards to oak, when you branch out from the epicenters of spirits and wine production, there are some true gems to be found. This is the case for our European oak. Most of our European oak comes from Slovakia and Ukraine. The forests around Zvolen in Slovakia and the Carpathian Mountains of Ukraine both produce magnificent oak logs that can bring a unique and elegant perspective to spirit maturation.
European Oak is Unique
Oak, with all its constituents intact, doesn’t have a lot of exciting flavors or aromas. We must first create the flavor components through the degradation of the wood constituents (lignin, hemicellulose) by way of seasoning, charring, or toasting. Through these means, we can unlock all the sweet, earthy, spicy, and smokey goodness that oak has to offer.
Those spice-like flavor notes come a little easier with European oak. The eugenol family is a collection of lignin degradation components that can bring a wonderful bouquet of spice-like aromas to spirits. Kind of like walking into a crafts store or a Hobby Lobby in the middle of Autumn. This might be due to its lignin structure or perhaps due to environmental influences on its growth rate, but for whatever the reason is, these yummy spice components always seem to be slightly more prominent with European oak.
European Oak is Elegant
If you were to taste European oak, French oak and American oak barrels side by side, all other things like toasting, charring, and seasoning being equal, you would be very pleased to notice that European oak yields the most delicate and balanced flavor profile of the three. The seemingly slower extraction rate of European oak allows all the nuances of the oak a chance to shine. This makes European oak perfect for those distillers wishing to highlight the character of a rare distillate or for those wishing to achieve a more complex array of flavors in the spirit. This oak is one that makes you think. It might be a little more work to pull all the flavors out of the glass, but the reward is well worth it.
I reached out to Jonathan Likarish, Head Distiller at Ironroot Republic Distillery in Denison, Texas who has been utilizing European oak for aging. “European oak is extremely important to our profile because of the complexity and balance it adds to our bourbon. The baking spice profile- and in particular the clove notes from the European oak- help to balance out the sweetness from the distillate and our American oak and create a depth to the mid palate. It’s our not-so-secret ingredient that really helps define our Harbinger Bourbon profile.”
When talking with Jared Himstedt, Head Distiller at Balcones Distilling in Waco, Texas, he shared that, “We love using European oak alongside our American and French. It gives us much more variation in the profiles available for blending. The way fruit is accentuated while still providing solid wood sugar and tannin. It is unique and versatile on the blending table.”
Even with the success of their products, European oak represents an untapped source for flavor in the American Spirits category. Its subtle boost in spice and its ability to highlight the true art of the distiller, make it a wonderful addition to any barrel program. Not to mention at an exceptional value.
For more information about European oak barrel options and how to make the flavor profile your own, please email Jeff Lahue or Chad Spalding.
Give me, Andrew Wiehebrink a shout with any questions about custom European oak barrels and to schedule a private barrel design session before getting your trial barrels on order.
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