On this page
What is a hogshead? A guide to whisky casks
Learn how a whisky hogshead is made, how its size compares with a bourbon barrel and why previous cask use matters.
A hogshead is a cask used to mature whisky, typically holding around 250 litres. A remade hogshead can be assembled from staves that previously formed bourbon barrels. A cooper adds staves to make a larger cask; Gordon & MacPhail describes a hogshead as approximately 250 litres, compared with about 200 litres for a barrel. Actual capacities vary.
Why reuse bourbon casks?
The US standard for bourbon requires storage in charred new oak containers. Once emptied, a bourbon cask can be reused to mature other spirits. The new-oak rule applies to bourbon; it does not mean that every American whisky must use a cask only once.
A hogshead can have a different previous use. Gordon & MacPhail also describes sherry hogsheads. Previous contents and the number of times a cask is filled can influence the whisky, so the word “hogshead” describes a cask size and shape rather than guaranteeing a particular flavour.
Exploring cask types
For a fuller explanation of the cask, see Whiskipedia’s hogshead guide. To browse whiskies by cask type, use our cask categories. See how we compare prices for the basis of our retailer comparisons.