R - like Refill Cask
What does the term Refill Cask mean?
Translated from English, a refill cask is a barrel that has been refilled.
What makes a refill cask?
A refill cask is a cask that has been filled at least twice, either with new make or already matured whisky. It is therefore a cask in which whisky has already matured and which was subsequently used a second time for the maturation of whisky.
What refill barrels are available?
There are no limits. They can be former bourbon, sherry, port, rum, red wine casks, etc. The only important thing for the nomenclature is that whisky has already matured in this cask, regardless of its origin, before it was refilled.
How does a bourbon barrel become a refill cask?
A bourbon barrel is a barrel, usually with a capacity of 190 liters (American Standard Barrel), which is made from fresh American white oak and has been charred on the inside using an open flame before being filled with the fresh distillate ("white dog"). After a minimum maturation period of two years, the contents can be called bourbon whiskey and the barrel can be emptied. These barrels may not be used again in the USA for maturing bourbon and are therefore exported to other countries. If such a former bourbon cask is now filled with fresh distillate or a whisky from a Scottish or German distillery, for example, this cask is referred to as a first-fill bourbon cask. If this cask is refilled after being emptied, it is referred to as a second-fill cask, also known as a refill cask. And if it is filled again, it is referred to as a third-fill cask, also known as a refill cask.
What is the difference between refill and second fill?
Refill cask is the generic term and includes both a second-fill cask, third-fill cask, etc. The terms second-fill and third-fill are more specific and indicate the exact number of times the cask has been filled. In this case, time or third-fill. The term refill cask is less specific in this respect, as it does not indicate the exact number of times the cask has been filled with whisky (at least once).
How often is a barrel refilled?
This depends on the philosophy of the respective distillery. Some only ever fill their barrels a maximum of twice and then sort the barrels out. Others use the barrels a third or even fourth time.
Does a refill cask still give off aromas at all?
Absolutely. However, it is also clear that the aromatic substances contained in the staves diminish with each maturation, as they are released from the maturing distillate with each maturation.
What is the advantage of using a refill cask?
For example, if a distillate or whisky has matured in a very active cask and has already taken on distinct woody notes, then it may make sense to transfer the contents of this active cask to a refill cask. Although this allows the whisky to continue maturing through oxidation with atmospheric oxygen and other chemical reactions, no more intense wood aromas are released from the cask to the maturing contents.
Are there whiskies that are particularly matured in refill casks?
That is difficult to say. There are always single malt whiskies that have spent their entire maturation period in a refill cask. It is sometimes noticeable that grain whiskies in particular, especially those aged 20 years or more, come from refill casks. The advantage of this is that the wood no longer releases such intense aromas to the maturing contents, allowing the distillery character of the whisky to be retained for longer and develop further without being "overwhelmed" by the cask or the previous contents.