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Actually the distillation process is performed at least twice, both to increase the alcohol content of the finished product and to remove impurities.
Distillation may continue until neutral grain spirits, 95% or more pure alcohol results.
The neutral spirits, which are tasteless, may be used to adjust the ‘proof’ of finished whiskies after aging.
Aging is the magical step whereby spirits acquire much of their unique flavors. In keeping with this magic, one cannot store the raw liquid just anywhere while it matures.
Bring on the cooper, the seemingly timeless craftsman who fabricates the wooden barrels employed for aging.
Wooden barrels are an interesting specialized craft product all by themselves. Whiskey barrels are made from straight-grained aged white oak used because it is one of the few woods that can hold a liquid without leaking.
The oak also allows water in the whiskey to move back and forth within the pores of the wood (as much as %” for one inch thick barrel walls), which helps to add flavor.
Barrels are constructed using over 30 double-tapered staves (3 or 4 foot long narrow strips of oak) slightly longer than the finished height of the barrel are placed side by side
95.7%