Why Finish?

By Chris Morris

Why “finish” a mature Whiskey? Whiskey “finishes” have been around for years. I give them credit for reinvigorating the Single Malt Scotch category in the United States back in the early 1990s. There are a number of reasons why a Whiskey could be “finished.” But first of all, what is “finishing”? 

As we have learned in previous articles, all Whiskeys must be matured in an oak barrel of some type. In some Whiskey genres such as Scotch, Canadian and Irish a barrel will be used many times to age a Whiskey. Therefore, the final Whiskey can be very light in color and flavor. This even though it may have aged for many years. To give this light Whiskey more character a distiller may choose to take that fully mature Whiskey, fully mature in terms of age, and re-barrel it in a second barrel, which had held something else in it before. Historically, the “finishing” barrel had held a fortified wine, such as a Port, Sherry, or Madeira. Sometimes other spirit and wine barrel types have been used. The second barrel’s previous content’s influence can give additional color and flavor to the original whiskey, therefore “finishing” its flavor profile. But today there are other reasons why a whiskey could be “finished.” The US spirits industry has become so dynamic with many new distilleries and new products that barrel “finishing” has become a new way to separate these brands and distilleries from the competition. There are, however, several other reasons to “finish” a Whiskey. 

So why “finish”? These are the most common reasons to “finish” a mature Whiskey… 

To extend an existing brand into new expressions. For example, in its 117 Series Old Forester has been “finished” in both Rum and Scotch barrels. These were called, not surprisingly, “Rum Finish” and “Scotch Finish” – so two new expressions of Old Forester were created. Another example is Woodford Reserve Double Oaked. This expression begins as fully mature Woodford Reserve Kentucky Straight Bourbon. The original Bourbon could be bottled as is but instead it is transferred (entered) into a second new barrel for a “finishing” period. This creates a completely new flavor profile that highlights the sweet aromatics of the second new barrel. This is not a traditional “finish” since the second barrel is new and therefore does not feature the characteristics of its previous contents. 

To personalize purchased whiskey stocks. Some brand owners do not distill their product (these are called NDP’s) instead they acquire mature stocks from a contract supplier. Since other brand owners are also buying stocks from the same supplier,” finishing” an acquired Whiskey allows the brand owner to influence how their product tastes. 

To provide consistency for a brand that contains sourced Whiskey. Some NDP’s acquire product from multiple sources, possibly over an extended period of time. This may result in an inconsistent flavor profile for their product (note: this does not imply that the flavor is not good, it just could be different from bottling to bottling). By adding a “finishing” flavor component to their product, the brand owner will have a more consistent, controllable flavor profile. 

To mask an undesirable flavor note. A distiller may have barrels of Whiskey that have a low character rating or some other defect that can be remedied by “finishing.” 

To emphasize or highlight existing flavors. This is the unique Woodford Reserve “finishing” concept detailed as follows. 

The Woodford Reserve Kentucky Straight Bourbon brand was created on the concept of how flavors are presented. It needed to have a complex flavor profile that would appeal to a diverse range of consumers who enjoy a variety of fine spirits like Cognac as well as wine and beer. 

To accomplish this we use a proprietary “Five Source of Flavor” production philosophy to craft a flavor profile that features 200+ flavors and aromas that are presented in balance across the “Five Areas of Bourbon Flavor” (Sweet Aromatics, Spice, Fruit and Floral, Wood, Grain). This ensures that no one area of flavor dominates the others. 

Therefore, we do not need to “finish” Woodford Reserve in a second barrel to add new flavor – with over 200 flavors there is no need to add more flavor. However, to create new expressions for inclusion in the Woodford Reserve Master Collection or Distillery Series program a “finishing” barrel is selected that will highlight and enhance an existing Woodford Reserve flavor or flavors. This will create an out of balance flavor presentation by design therefore making the “finished” expression more “flavor focused.” For example, XO Cognacs exhibit many of the same flavors that can be found on the Woodford Reserve Flavor Wheel. Flavors such as numerous nuts, toffee, fruit, tea, and other herbal notes. By finishing in the XO Cognac casks no new flavors are added to the Woodford Reserve, instead it makes those same flavors more pronounced and impactful. 

At Woodford Reserve our “finishing” philosophy is quite simple – you should always taste Woodford Reserve in a “finished” expression of Woodford Reserve. If you cannot taste the Woodford, then it is not “finished” – it is covered up. Cheers!