Heaven Hill

Bourbon must be aged in new, charred oak barrels. It’s a critical step in developing bourbon’s distinct flavor.Freshly distilled bourbon doesn’t look anything like what you use to make an Old Fashioned. When it comes out of the still, it’s crystal clear, and smells and tastes like funky raw grain. Most of a bourbon’s character,Continue reading “Heaven Hill”

Exploring Kentucky’s Bourbon Rickhouses

Here is a rickhouse passage. A rickhouse, also known as a rackhouse or warehouse, is a specially constructed building used to store and age bourbon or other distilled spirits, typically with barrels stacked on wooden structures called “ricks”.  Rickhouses are designed to provide a controlled environment for the aging process of whiskey, which is crucialContinue reading “Exploring Kentucky’s Bourbon Rickhouses”

Inside the Rickhouse: Where Kentucky Bourbon Grows in Flavor

Storage in the rickhouse. This is where the barrels are aged for around 10 years. During this time the barrels are regularly inspected so they can be sorted by the way the bourbon is aging. A typical rickhouse, or warehouse for aging whiskey barrels, can hold anywhere from 18,000 to 55,000 barrels in these veryContinue reading “Inside the Rickhouse: Where Kentucky Bourbon Grows in Flavor”