Aged better white?

[Hillbilly Popstar]

I put about a quart of my first product into a fresh barrel my wife had gotten me. I barreled at 130 proof. I also kept a pint of white 130 proof to sip on. Once a week I'd pour a half once of the barreled stuff to sample and learn about the oaking process. Each week I took notes.

The straight white dog was harsh, but within a week started to change radically. What I noticed was the pint put away in the jar got smooth and velvety and even started to taste sweet. (This was a barley sugarhead). But the whiskey in the barrel got even more harsh within 3 weeks. I'm aware that the aging process takes a lot longer than that. But I was surprised at how quickly the white dog smoothed out in a glass jar vs the barreled whiskey (while showing some nice smokey notes and some caramel and vanilla) got spicier and harsher. I really preferred the sweet smooth flavor of the white over the oaked whiskey. I know there are lots of factors at play here but...
Is this normal?

I am finding the aging aspects of this hobby a bit over whelming. It tastes so good straight out the still, then in the following days it changes daily and everything you do to it can effect that change for the better or worse.

I am working on a 3 generation CF spirit run that should yield enough for me to put some away for 6 moths or longer. But in the mean time, can anyone explain to me my experiences?