Double Wood

Double Wood is a concept in whisky that describes aging in two different wooden casks. The basic idea is that the spirit acquires new aromas and colors through contact with a secondary type of wood after the primary maturation. The term is primarily used as a marketing term and its meaning can vary between producers and regions; there is no universal standard for when a whisky can be labeled 'Double Wood'.

Process

• First phase: The whisky matures in a cask of one type of wood (often a bourbon cask or American white oak), which gives notes of vanilla, caramel, and body.

• Second phase: The spirit is then transferred to another cask of a different wood type (e.g., sherry, Madeira, or port wine cask) for a secondary maturation period, adding fruity, spicy, and more complex notes. The duration of the second phase often varies from months to several years.

• Duration and intensity: Compared with single-cask maturation, Double Wood can lead to a deeper color and a broader range of notes, but the results depend greatly on the chosen cask types and aging time.

Typical combinations

• Bourbon cask followed by sherry cask

• Bourbon cask followed by a port wine cask

• Rum cask to Madeira

• Cognac cask to sherry cask

Flavor profile and color

• Notes from the first cask (vanilla, caramel, dried wood) mix with notes from the secondary cask (dried fruits, nuts, spices).

• The color typically becomes deeper than with single-cask aging, and the intensity of the aromas depends on the duration and the type of wood.

Regulation and marketing

• Double Wood is primarily a marketing term and not a standardized designation. Consumers should read the producer's description of the cask progression to understand how the aging has affected the whisky.

• The term is used broadly and can cover anything from short finishing to longer two-cask aging; details can be found in the producer's specifications.

Comparison with finishing

• Finishing normally refers to a short secondary cask aging after the main maturation, with the aim of adjusting or refining certain notes. Double Wood usually denotes a more extensive two-cask maturation, but practices vary between producers.