What type of OAK???

**shawhighlander** · 25th April 07, 01:24 PM

Does anyone know what type of OAK scotch whiskey casks are made from???

Please tell me it is NOT Red OAK!!??

Thanks,

**beloitpiper** · 25th April 07, 01:38 PM

I'm pretty sure they use White Oak (Quercus alba) casks, but I may be mistaken. Where's Robertson when ya need him?!?

**turpin** · 25th April 07, 01:39 PM

what's wrong with red? I know you aren't allergic to it. It's not endangered.

**ccga3359** · 25th April 07, 01:46 PM

Originally Posted by beloitpiper

I'm pretty sure they use White Oak (Quercus alba) casks, but I may be mistaken. Where's Robertson when ya need him?!?

Under the cask?

White oak would be my guess. It is the choice of boatbuilders everywhere as it is closed cell whereas I believe red oak is more capillary. That would soak up more scotch which would drive your tightest Scot crazy. It is also less prone to rot that red oak.

**Jerry** · 25th April 07, 01:49 PM

I'm not sure what kind of oak is used, but a lot of the casks are used ones purchased from American distillers like Jack Daniels. They can be used only once for the American whiskey, so The Scots purchase them and break them down for shipping. From what they said at a whiskey tasting tent, the Scots rent the casks to the Spaniards for aging wine before breaking them down again and continuing their journey to Scotland, thus paying for the original cost of the barrels and the shipping. Leave it to a Scot to figure how to get free barrels.

**Mr. MacDougall** · 25th April 07, 01:50 PM

Yeah, I saw a show on History Channel, not long ago. It's white oak... in some cases, it's actually the same casks used by the Jack Daniels distilery -- JD only uses them once, and then sells them. In some cases to distileries in Scotland.

**drobin** · 25th April 07, 02:16 PM

Originally Posted by beloitpiper

I'm pretty sure they use White Oak (Quercus alba) casks

Me too.

Sorry can’t help with the species of the trees, but it is white oak. From the wine side of things I do know the two main barrel producing areas. The barrels: new or used, are generally from either American or Europe. In America the trees are from regions like Minnesota and Iowa, while the European barrels mainly come from the Troncais, Vosges & Nevers forests in France.

**Rab Gordon** · 25th April 07, 02:35 PM

I have a barrel from the Isle of Jura Distillery that I use for my Sgian Dubhs and that is American white oak which previously contained Bourbon.
You get a lovely whisky smell when it's freshly cut but that soon disipates so I've been meaning to experiment with a whisky / beeswax finish but every time I buy a bottle to do this experiment it has to be taste tested first of course and then somehow there's none left for the wax !

Rab

**shawhighlander** · 25th April 07, 02:46 PM

Shweeeh! I thought I was gonna have to give up Scotch.
Just found out today that I have an allergy to Red Oak...I have felt badly for 2 months solid, and when I read the allergen "red oak" I immediately remembered all the scotch I have had during this season and thought perhaps I was exacerbating the problem by ingestion.

Hope you guys are right, cause I like my Scotch.
Slainte Mhor!

**ccga3359** · 25th April 07, 02:53 PM

Originally Posted by shawhighlander

Shweeeh! I thought I was gonna have to give up Scotch.
Just found out today that I have an allergy to Red Oak...I have felt badly for 2 months solid, and when I read the allergen "red oak" I immediately remembered all the scotch I have had during this season and thought perhaps I was exacerbating the problem by ingestion.

Hope you guys are right, cause I like my Scotch.
Slainte Mhor!

When you drink a lot of scotch do you suffer blurred vision, slurred speech, light headedness, inability to walk properly and occasional vomiting? I get that when I drink Southern Comfort, maybe I'm allergic to red oak.