Ageing Alcohol: The difference between 3-year-old and 15-year-old whisky (2024)

Put simply, ageing is when distilled spirits are placed in barrels to age for a specific period of time, but the minimum period tends to be three years for whisky. The whole purpose behind ageing spirits is to reduce the harsher flavours that are associated with raw alcohol, while introducing flavours that are found in the wood of the barrel, which adds a distinct taste. The spirits that are often aged as part of their production processes are whisky and brandy, as this is crucial to the creation of these spirits; however, rum and tequila are also popular choices to be aged.

The casks or barrels that are used to age the alcohol are typically made of oak. These can be charred, as this can open up the wood, making it easier for the spirits to absorb and extract the flavour. Other types of wood can be used, but this is dependent on what the final flavour profile of the spirit is supposed to be – as different types of wood can significantly change the profile.

What’s the difference between ageing times?

With the general consensus being that the older the whisky, the better the taste, the differences between whisky that’s been aged for 3 years versus one that’s been aged for 15 years can sometimes be easy to distinguish. Typically, a young whisky tends to have a traditional spirit taste, which can be harsher and one dimensional. Whiskies that are aged for longer in the cask tend to lose this harsher flavour and become more complex in taste, as it is more full-bodied, featuring a longer finish.

However, it goes without saying that all whiskies are different. There are even examples of 10-year-old whiskies being more complex than 15-year-old ones. It’s also crucial to remember that it’s partially down to your own personal taste, and what you enjoy in your whisky.

Packaging Embellishments with Signet

Looking for a way to set your whisky apart from the competition? At Signet, we work with a range of clientele to create embellishments and decorations that enhance the experience of the product and highlights features such as the age of the product.

To learn more about what we do, or to find out about how we can help with your packaging designs, call us on +44 (0)1733 396080 or +44 (0)1577 330300, or email us at [email protected]. Alternatively, you can use our simple contact form.