can i use any type of wood to age whiskey?

[jo.trader]

this is the tree, its called Acacia tortilis

and this is wood, i can smell a hint of perfumy bitterness in the red part.
this kind of wood is used mainly for cooking because of its "caramel/honeyish" aroma

 

[jtrux]

this is the tree, its called Acacia tortilis

and this is wood, i can smell a hint of perfumy bitterness in the red part.
this kind of wood is used mainly for cooking because of its "caramel/honeyish" aroma

Hard to say. Have you heard of anyone else doing it? You could put a small amount of whisky in a mason jar with some finely chopped chips. Alternate moving from the jar from the freezer to the cabinet (24 hr freezer, 24 hr cabinet). Shaking each time. This will speed the aging process from years to a month. The alternating temperatures simulate the seasons that whiskey goes through in the barrel as the seasons shift from winter to summer. The warm period sucks liquid into the wood, then the cold squeezes it back out leaving a few impurities trapped in the wood. My one concern is not knowing anything about that wood, is it toxic?

 

[Beer Viking]

In order to make a bourbon or scotch you need to use oak barrels. I have never heard of any kind of whiskey being made with anything other then oak. The oak is not just used to age the whiskey, but to mellow it out and add flavor.

I hope this helps!

 

[danielthemaniel]

Sure, why not? It may not fit the technical definition of whiskey, but it would be it's own unique spirit.

 

[bracconiere]

all i've ever heard is acacia is toxic....find something suitable for smoking food....be good then....

 

[Jayjay1976]

You could try using acacia to smoke your malt before brewing, the way Scotch distilleries use peat to smoke their malt. Smoking might do a better job of imparting the desirable caramel/honey notes than aging the spirit on raw wood and might be less likely to poison you if it is toxic. IMO, the smoke is probably safe since people already use it to cook.

 

[hopjuice_71]

This from Wikipedia: "Some species of acacia contain psychoactive alkaloids, and some contain potassium fluoroacetate, a rodent poison."

Yeah, fluoroactetate is a metabolic poison.. ..real bad.

 

[Jayjay1976]

Acacia is also one of the most common species used to manufacture wooden kitchen products that are designed for direct food contact; spoons, platters, bowls, etc.

Shouldn't be too difficult to identify which supspecies OP has growing locally to rule out that its any of those harmful ones. A quick call to any local conservation office might be all it takes to get a difinitive answer.

 

[Stealthcruiser]

Methinks also, that Acacia includes the family of Mesquite wood(s).

 

[Jayjay1976]

I missed where OP listed the species in question, Acacia Tortilis.

Excerpt from Wikipedia:
"Timber from the tree is used for furniture, wagon wheels, fence posts, cages, and pens. Vachellia wood was also used exclusively by the Israelites in the Old Testament in the building of the tabernacle and the tabernacle furniture, including the Ark of the Covenant. The pods and foliage, which grow prolifically on the tree, are used as fodder for desert grazing animals. The bark is often used as a string medium in Tanganyika, and is a source for tannin. Gum from the tree is edible and can be used as Gum Arabic. Parts of the tree including roots, shoots, and pods are also often used by natives for a vast number of purposes including decorations, weapons, tools, and medicines.[7]

 

[Jayjay1976]

Wait a minute....aged on acacia, which was used to build the ark of the covenant, would basically be analogous to aged on the ark itself.

Where is OP, btw? Dropped this gem in the middle of a pond and left us to surf the ripples?

I smell some thing weird.

 

[Shine0n]

When in doubt...dont!!!

I love to experiment but with an unknown substance I'll not take the chance.

Beautiful wood tho, make a flight serving tray for your likker and use something known for your adjuncts.

 

[odorf]

Find some white oak, Cut it up into kindling size pieces
then char the kindling over an open flame
then put the pieces into your jug, and let it sit for a week. OR to your taste preference

 

[bruce_the_loon]

I believe that is one of the acacia species we South Africans use as barbecue fire wood. Hasn't killed us yet.

 

[Rossnaree]

Never ever ever NEVER use red oak.
BLECH!!!

 

[Toxxyc]

I believe that is one of the acacia species we South Africans use as barbecue fire wood. Hasn't killed us yet.

I came here to say this.

I also came here to say that I've tried making whisky with the stronger flavoured woods before, like mesquite wood chips and hickory. It was absolutely horrible. It tastes like wood, not like whisky. Like sucking on a piece of wood. Because sucking wood sounds terrible in all ways to me.

 

[antialiased]

As someone who moved to an area where oak is darn near impossible to find, let me suggest that you don't. I've tried wood from multiple trees in my region (the Ecuadorian andes), including acacia, and would not describe any of the flavors as "good". What I'd recommend is to toast/flame a small piece of whatever wood (that you've determined is non-toxic) and see if the aroma reminds you of whiskey... If it doesn't (and it probably won't), don't even bother. If it does, take a pint of distillate and add a small (cubic inch or less) piece of the toasted wood. Try tasting the distillate each day and see if it is developing flavors you like. Again though, I wouldn't bet on it and I finally resorted to setting aside space in my luggage for oak each time I return from a visit to the US. There are other woods that can impart interesting flavors, but most don't (in my experience) grow in the same regions as acacias.

 

[Toxxyc]

I also live in an area where I assumed you can't find oak. Until I did. Visit lumberyards or specialist joineries. They often have raw woods, including various types of oak, and offcuts are a dime a dozen. I got enough oak to last me a year, for free, as a "tester" from one of these joineries. I was told the next batch would be around R50 for a car boot full. R50 is around $4~$5.

 

[Uncle Tom]

I would only use oak even if I had to ride a camel 500 miles through the desert to get it. With the invention of the inter web seems like it would be fairly easy to obtain, I experiment with grains and different mashes but after doing this hobby for over thirty years I will simply say stick to the oak. By bus, plane,train or camel stick to the oak.

 

[FromZwolle]

i don't see a reason not to try it, provided it won't be poison.

 

[Abhishek Dewan]

this is the tree, its called Acacia tortilis

and this is wood, i can smell a hint of perfumy bitterness in the red part.
this kind of wood is used mainly for cooking because of its "caramel/honeyish" aroma

Yes in India, traditional “whiskey” uses acacia, after distillation. The wood is also used as traditional tooth brush to chew. Use the red part beneath the outer crust. It has medicinal properties too. Babool Tree Uses, Dose, Side Effects, Ayurvedic Medicines

 

[jrgtr42]

I know this is way past for the OP, but a couple months ago in Brew Your Own magazine there was an article about aging on different woods. I don't think Acacia was specifically mentioned, but from the description JayJay1976 posted, this variety should be fine...
Cigar City brewing has been huge about experimenting with different woods. I know they had a cedar aged IPA that was pretty durn good a few years back - not sure if it's still there - I ignore them since the buyout.

 

[Flagman Faigen]

I do not advise you to use this type of wood!

 

[doug293cz]

I do not advise you to use this type of wood!

What is your basis for saying this?

Brew on