The longing for white oak

For centuries distillers have used the effects of white oak wood to perfectly age their spirits. The wood from a white oak tree imparts caramel, vanilla, and even coconut flavors into the distillates it ages. With a smoothing effect, white oak has been in high demand for a long time.

The future of white oak trees is gradually diminishing. From the delicate flavors it imparts, and its rounding abilities, many distillers have been using white oak barrels to age their spirits. Because of this high demand, there are few mature white oak trees left. With the lack of available white oak trees, the prices of existing white oak barrels have skyrocketed leaving distillers on edge.

The threat of oak bottleneck

Another factor adding to the decline of available white oak is the emergence of oak bottleneck. The decline of barrel suitable wood is driven by focused harvesting of 90-year-old trees.

 Younger trees are facing the impact of:

  1. Climate change
  2. Invasive species
  3. Competitive forest dynamics

This threatens the core of quality barrel production. The shortage creates a critical bottleneck in the oak wood market, directly impacting distillers.

Navigating the white oak draught can be challenging, however, distillers have now started searching for alternative solutions to fight the availability and affordability of white oak barrels. One popular option is barrel rejuvenation, where Madeva is emerging as a strong choice in this evolving landscape.

The pros of barrel rejuvenation

Madeva uses the same 90-year-old American oak as used in barrel making. Derived from this wood, Madeva rejuvenates depleted barrels. Barrel rejuvenation techniques are all used in order to extend the lifespan of a single barrel. With STR techniques, the barrels are altered on a physical level, scraping, toasting, and charring the depleted wood in order to surface the useable layers. With Madeva, the barrels are altered on a molecular level, restoring the exhausted phenolics and reintroducing the missing compounds. Restoring the used barrel to an almost original form.

Although it may feel like treading on unknown waters, this shortage doesn’t have to force distillers into a panic. With the help of ongoing advancements, barrel rejuvenation can be a solution in your reserve.