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French oak whisky

13 bottles in stock, with the best current price from the UK retailers we check.

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Questions

What is the cheapest French oak whisky?
The cheapest French oak whisky is Maker’s Mark 46 (47% ABV, 70cl), at £47.00 from The Whisky Shop. That is £51.99 delivered to the UK mainland for one bottle. Next cheapest: The Glenlivet 15 Year Old (£53.95) and Waterford Lakefield 1.1 (£65.00).
How much does French oak whisky cost?
French oak whisky costs from £47.00 to £499.95, with a median of £99.95 for a full-size bottle. The dearest is Bowmore 26 Year Old French Oak Barrique, The Vintner’s Trilogy.
What is the oldest French oak whisky you can buy?
Bowmore 26 Year Old French Oak Barrique, The Vintner’s Trilogy, at 26 years old, from £499.95.
What is French oak?
French oak casks are made mostly from sessile oak (Quercus petraea), with some pedunculate oak (Quercus robur), from forests such as Limousin, Allier, Tronçais and the Vosges. It is the oak of the Cognac industry and of French wine barriques, and is now also used for Scotch and Japanese whisky.
How does French oak differ from American oak in whisky?
French oak is high in tannin and tends to give spice, while American white oak gives more vanilla, coconut and sweet spice. Whiskipedia describes sessile (French) oak as high in tannins and spiciness, and European Quercus robur as giving dried fruit, clove and resin.
Which French oak casks are used for whisky?
They include wine casks, above all the Bordeaux barrique of about 225 litres and the Burgundy barrel of about 228 litres, and casks that have held Cognac, which must age only in oak. Some Madeira casks are also French oak, though most are American oak.
Is French oak the same as European or Spanish oak?
No. “European oak” usually means Quercus robur, the common wood for sherry casks, whereas French barriques are mostly sessile oak (Quercus petraea). Spain also has its own species, Quercus pyrenaica, and the Consejo Regulador notes that sherry casks are made from American, Spanish and French oak. “Spanish oak” on a label may just mean a cask made in Spain.