WhiskeyFYI

Ex-Bourbon Hogshead

Ex-Bourbon Hogshead cask — watercolor illustration
Origin United States / Scotland
Size 250L
Previous Contents Bourbon whiskey
Typical Maturation 6-15

Flavor Contribution

Vanilla, toffee, and gentle oak spice. Slightly slower maturation than a barrel produces more integrated flavors.

About

A hogshead is created by dismantling ex-bourbon barrels and reassembling the staves into a larger cask with new ends. The extra 50 liters of capacity compared to a standard barrel means a lower wood-to-spirit ratio, resulting in a gentler extraction of oak flavors. This is one of the most common casks used in Scotch whisky maturation, balancing efficiency with subtle flavor development.

Part of the Beverage FYI Family