Whiskey finishing is a technique whereby a distiller transfers their whiskey from one type of cask into another. This secondary maturation occurs in a ‘finishing barrel” – a barrel that’s been previously used to mature something else e.g. sherry, rum, bourbon, wine, etc. The process – when done right – adds complexity to the whisky that balances all the different notes from all parts of the whiskey making process.

At Wanderback, we use new oak barrels for the first few years of aging our whiskey. We also often choose to highlight different flavors with finishing barrels during a secondary maturation that can last between 6 weeks and 6 months depending on the barrel and time of year. 

Here’s a short article from Inside Hook explaining more about the concept of secondary maturation.