Sante Fe Spirits master distiller Stephen Julander shares insights into how barrels affect the character of whiskey and other spirits, tips for maintaining and re-using barrels, his approach to blending, and more.
As one of the more successful and longer-established craft distilleries in North America, Santa Fe Spirits has won numerous awards and ardent fans for terroir-focused products such as its Colkegan line of mesquite-smoked whiskeys. Since its founding in 2010, the distillery also has accumulated a sizeable barrel stock and considerable expertise in getting distinctive character from its barrels and blends.
In this video course, Sante Fe master distiller Stephen Julander zooms in on barrel-aging to cover a range of topics, including:
And much more.
Featuring:
Lessons
Hear a little about Santa Fe Spirits, a barrel-focused craft distillery, and ponder the history of wooden casks and what makes them special.
Consider the pieces of a wet-type barrel—whether made from white oak or other type of wood—as well as how some of those parts have evolved and why we need them.
Get to know the process that transforms the surface of the wood, and the flavor compounds that result, making the barrel one of the most impactful elements on the taste and complexity of a mature spirit.
Preparing a spirit for barrel-aging involves identifying your ideal entry proof, having the right amount of “roughness” coming off the still, planning for the angel’s share, and more.
The barrel is a time capsule—consider how it changes throughout the year within its environment, as well as how its placement in the rackhouse might (or might not) affect the character of the spirit.
Watch as Stephen cracks into two well-aged but very different barrels—one of charred new oak, the other a used bourbon barrel—to compare the differences in color and character.
Hear more about how Sante Fe Spirits approaches its whiskey blends and the importance of its mesquite-smoked malt to that finishing process. Other considerations include the “bottle shock” effect and the rules and regulations of whiskey production.
Hear about how Stephen and the Santa Fe team maintain their barrels—including the use of steam to clean and saturate the wood; tightening the hoops to “tune” the barrel and ensure a tight seal; preparing barrels for re-use; and minimal movement to help ensure a premium spirit.
Hear about Sante Fe’s process for tasting through barrels, blending, and bottling, including the meaning of the age statement on the bottle. Finally, Stephen shares parting thoughts about what makes craft distilling special.