White Oak
A heavy char finish on white American oak staves imparts bold flavors like smoke, charred wood, caramel, and sometimes tobacco or leather. The intense heat opens the wood's pores, allowing the whiskey to extract darker, more robust notes.
A toasted stave brings out subtler, sweeter flavors such as vanilla, honey, and toasted nuts. The lower heat enhances the complexity, adding warmth and depth without the intense smokiness of a char.
Hickory
A heavy char stave of hickory wood imparts bold, smoky flavors with notes of charred wood, earthy tones, and a touch of spice. The intense charring brings out strong, deep flavors that can add complexity and richness to the whiskey.
A toasted hickory stave, on the other hand, offers more subtle flavors, like mild smoke, sweet spice, and roasted nuts. The lower heat toasting brings out smoother, softer notes, enhancing the whiskey's warmth without overwhelming it with heavy smokiness.
Cherry
A heavy char stave of cherry wood imparts bold, fruity flavors with a mix of smoky cherry, dark fruit, and mild spice. The deep char adds richness and intensity, bringing out earthy and slightly tannic elements.
A toasted cherry wood stave brings out sweeter, fruit-forward notes, like soft cherry, light caramel, and subtle warmth. The toasting process enhances the natural fruitiness of the wood, adding a smooth, rounded character to the whiskey.
Maple
A heavy char stave of maple wood imparts deep, smoky flavors with hints of caramelized sugar, dark molasses, and a touch of spice. The intense charring creates bold, robust notes with a slight sweetness balanced by earthy undertones.
A toasted maple wood stave brings out more delicate, sweet flavors like maple syrup, light caramel, and vanilla. The toasting process enhances the natural sweetness of the wood, adding warmth and subtle complexity to the whiskey without the strong smokiness of heavy char.
