Rejuvenated

When a cask has been used to mature whisky on several occasions, its effectiveness in imparting flavour diminishes as the wood slowly becomes exhausted. Rather than dispose of these barrels, a process known as rejuvenation or reconditioning can breathe some life back into them and extend their use.

This practice generally involves steaming and scraping the inside of the barrel to remove its original layer of char and expose new wood on the staves again. The casks are then either re-toasted or re-charred, releasing vanillin and caramel taste in the wood again. These casks in essence then function very similarly to new or virgin oak, imparting colour and flavour quickly into the spirit.

Not always a popular maturation style, recent and important developments in the rejuvenation practice which include curing the casks prior to re-toasting, have seen their use increasingly popularised in the 21st century.