Bite-sized learning on everything and anything relating to wood, casks and the maturation of spirits by Dr. Martin Purvis.
It’s been a bit of a week on new oak process and props…..
Thought I’d finish with my best bit of tree!
The following pics are a section through a log showing the cuts for quarter sawing. I’ve also highlighted the way that this process allows the stave to cut across the medullary rays (the finer black lines).
Medullary rays are impermeable barriers which prevent liquid passing across the stave and this is critical for maturing spirits and to stop the barrels leaking.
Coupled with tyloses which are blocked pores in the xylem (common in white oak) which stops the stave leaking from their ends….then this is what makes white oaks so successful for barrels!
If you want to learn more or touch and feel this type of thing then please look us up.
by Master of Wood and Barrel Expert Dr. Martin Purvis, at Smart Distillery Solutions, servicing clients such as Kelvin Cooperage.
Qualifications: BSc/PHD Geology, MSc Brew/Distilling, MBA Luxury Brand Marketing and Family Business
Background: Martin has worked for nearly 20 years across the spirit drinks industry in a variety of roles from Technical Support, Compliance, Food Safety, HMRC, Blending, Procurement of raw materials, Barrel Procurement, Maturation improvement, grain storage and merchanting, used and new barrel sales, customer relationship management, new business development.
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