Hello, I’ve been exploring American whiskey and scotch the last few years, but I still find it difficult to pinpoint the flavors imparted by the cask, including different woods (e.g. American oak, French oak…), the history of said wood (e.g. ex-bourbon, ex-sherry…), and the effects of aging.

An ideal study would involve using the same base spirit and changing only a single variable at a time—either the duration of aging, the type of wood, or the prior use of the cask—but I’m curious to hear whatever suggestions you all have to develop a better appreciation for the effects of the cask. Any whiskey comparisons that would be helpful? Should I buy different kinds of wood chips and add them to whiskey, or maybe add different kinds of sherry? Any other fun experiments?

Thank you!