Like whiskey, cocktails are a longstanding American tradition.

The first mention of the word “cocktail” comes from The Farmers Cabinet published in the U.S. in 1803, and the first use of “cocktail party'' is traced to Missouri in 1917.

Cocktails gained even more popularity during the Prohibition Era in the United States, lasting from 1920-1933. With beer and wine less widely available during this time the strong spirits that were available benefited greatly from the addition of sugar, bitters, tonics and fruit juices.

Bobby Jones, born on March 17, 1902 emerged in the middle of this developing cocktail culture. Just as we pay homage to time-honored whiskey making techniques and to the Bobby Jones legacy with every bottle of the Clover Whiskey that we produce, classic cocktails are another way to honor the American drinking tradition.

Barrel aging cocktails combine two traditions to create a new way to experience your favorite drinks.

Why Barrel Age Cocktails?

Those who enjoy the The Clover Whiskey Collection already have an appreciation for the refinement that single barrel aging can bring to a spirit. The char on the inside of our barrels filters and removes harshness from our whiskey. Wood sugars from the barrel slowly release and infuse our whiskey with notes of caramel, vanilla and spice.

Barrel aging cocktails at home uses the same methodology, and like a finely aged whiskey, brings enhanced smoothness and cohesion to your drinks like you’ve never experienced before.

For the whiskey enthusiast who is looking for a new way to develop flavors at home we’ve designed our very own miniature barreling collection. Our barrels are made of real American oak and have a level #3 charred interior, allowing you to experiment in refining your cocktails by using the same techniques that we do to make our award-winning whiskeys.

Available in a 3 Liter or 5 Liter barrel size, these mini oak barrels will fit easily on your kitchen countertop or make an attractive centerpiece at your next cocktail party.

These smaller barrels will decrease aging time because the ratio of liquid to char contact is much higher than in large barrels. What takes years to develop in a large barrel will only take weeks or months in a miniature barrel.

How to Barrel Age Cocktails

Aging cocktails at home is a fun way to experiment with blending, smoothing and elevating flavors. While there are a few steps that you should always follow, a large part of the process comes down to patience and experimenting. This is where your creativity and palate will help to direct your new favorite hobby.

Steps for getting your first batch started:

Prep and seal barrel for first use (guide to sealing below)
Choose a recipe that does not contain fruit juices, dairy, syrups, or anything that may spoil being left at room temperature for an extended period of time
Whatever you are aging sip and sample every 7 days, your liquors will most likely start to develop a nice flavor around 10-14 days. The Clover 3 oz tasting glasses are the perfect size for small sampling along the way.
When you feel a cocktail is ready, remove it immediately from the barrel to halt the aging process and capture peak flavor.
When removing your cocktail from the barrel run it through a cheesecloth or fine mesh strainer to catch any wood debris from the barrel.
If removing your cocktail from the barrel, transfer it using a funnel into sterile glass bottles. You can store the bottles filled with your aged cocktail in your refrigerator or freezer until ready for use.

Preparing Your Barrel For First Use

There are a few steps to take before your barrel is ready for its first use. Proper preparation of your barrel will ensure a tight seal and minimal loss of the high quality spirits you will eventually be filling it with. Sealing your barrel is the process of filling it with water and allowing the wood to slowly absorb moisture. As the planks absorb the water they will start swelling and push together as tightly as possible, creating a natural seal.

steps to get your barrel ready for its first use:

Rinse the barrel thoroughly with warm water to remove any loose wood particles or debris that may still be inside.
Install the spigot on the front face of the barrel, making sure it is secured tightly.
Place your barrel on the barrel stand, and then move it to a sink or over a tray that can catch any escaping liquid. Fill your barrel with warm water from the hole in the top of the barrel, known as the bung hole. This will begin the sealing process for your barrel and can take anywhere from 1-8 days.
Keep an eye on your barrel over the next few days. As water escapes continue to replace and fill it with water until you no longer notice any water loss. Once your barrel can hold the water for 3-5 hours without losing any liquid, you will know you have achieved a proper seal.
Empty the barrel of all water.
Leave the spigot in the on/open position and allow your barrel to air dry for 3-5 hours. This will remove any excess water that may dilute the spirit you will be aging.
Your barrel is now sealed and ready for its first use! Move the spigot back to the off/closed position. Place the barrel back on the barrel stand, fill with your desired liquids and securely close by replacing the bung in the top hole of the barrel.

Tips for Barrel Aging Cocktails

Now that your barrel is ready for use there are a few factors you may want to consider before choosing the cocktail you will age in it first.

The first time you use the barrel is the most intense the flavors of wood and char will be. Additionally, the liquid you initially fill the barrel with will be absorbed and season the barrel. Those flavors will be subtly imparted on future mixes.

The more a barrel is used the less it will communicate its flavors to the spirit inside of it. This means with every use of the barrel you may have to age the spirit a little longer to get a similar finish.

top tips for BARREL aging cocktails:

The smaller the barrel the faster the aging.
Never add bitters directly to your barrel. Bitters will overpower all of the other flavors in your barrel. If your recipe calls for bitters add them to the drink upon serving, after the aging process is finished.
On the first day of aging, fill a small bottle with a sample of your cocktail and store it in your refrigerator. This will serve as a control for your cocktail so you can compare the developing flavor of your aged cocktail to its starting point. To taste the evolution of your cocktail keep samples from the beginning, middle, and end of your aging process and serve using The Clover tasting flight tray.
Keep your barrel out of direct sunlight.
Cocktails taste better with friends. Show off your final product by inviting friends over to enjoy your unique final product. The Clover glassware set is the ideal serving vessel for the occasion.
Expect some natural evaporation to occur during aging. A loss of up to 10% of your original liquid can be expected and is affectionately referred to as “Angel Share.” Don’t be alarmed if this leads to some slight changes in color to your barrel over time.

With your barrel prepped and our very best aging tips at your disposal, you are now ready to begin aging your own cocktails at home.

We hope you will enjoy how your cocktails become smoother, completely blended together and expanded in tasting notes.

Below we’ve included one of our favorite recipes to barrel age if you are looking for some inspiration on where to get started. Keep checking back as we expand our recipe book with new cocktails to age and experiment with.

Our Favorite Barrel Aged Cocktail RECIPES

INGREDIENTS

5L Barrel

3.75L The Clover Single Barrel Straight Bourbon (5 of our 750ml bottles)
1 ¼ cup Granulated Sugar
3 oz. Angostura Bitters

3L Barrel

2.25L The Clover Single Barrel Straight Bourbon (3 of our 750ml bottles)
¾ cup Granulated Sugar
1 ¾ oz. Angostura Bitters

DIRECTIONS

Combine The Clover Straight Bourbon and sugar in a large pitcher. Stir (to dissolve the sugar) and pour into your barrel. Store for 4 weeks or more.
When ready to serve add the bitters directly to your barrel immediately before serving if using the whole barrel in one sitting (such as for a cocktail party). If you are planning to only serve one drink at a time skip this step and instead add a few dashes of bitters to the mixing glass.
To serve, tap ~3 ounces into an ice-filled mixing glass and stir to chill.
Strain into a rocks glass, like The Clover 11 oz. whiskey glass, over a fresh ice-cube.
Top with orange oil from the twist of an orange skin, discarding the rind. (If storing the aged cocktail in bottles, tap into 167ml bottles, along with ¼ oz. water. Cap and store in the freezer. To serve, pour over ice and serve with the orange twist.)

A Beginner's Guide to Barrel Aged Cocktails