Let’s Talk Char

Why are bourbon barrels charred? It’s not to give bourbon a smoky flavor. Charring actually transforms the oak, helping the whiskey draw out the rich flavors we associate with a great bourbon.

The intense heat breaks down compounds in the wood, creating vanilla, caramel and toffee notes, while deeper char levels can also influence color and reduce some of the oak’s tannins.

ANGEL’S ENVY uses a Level 3 char, exposing the inside of its bourbon barrels to intense heat for about 35 seconds—just enough to help create its distinctive flavor and character.

Char Levels:
Level 1 — 15 seconds
Level 2 — 30 seconds
Level 3 — 35 seconds (ANGEL’S ENVY)
Level 4 — 55 seconds, known as “alligator char”

Next time you pour a bourbon, remember: some of that flavor started with just a few seconds of fire.