Live Oak (Quercus virginiana) for aging

[Texas Jim]

Down here, I don't have any White Oak (Quercus Alba) growing, but I have tons of Live Oak (Quercus virginiana) which is in the white oak family. Has anyone tried using that for aging?

[kiwi Bruce]

White Oak is the wood of choice for casks used by the Bourbon makers, it has "open pores" that allows for a good exchange of spirit and wood compounds and oxygen. Once used it becomes the wood of choice for the single malt makers as well. However it's not the only oak used in the alcohol beverage industry...the Britt's use English oak for beer barrels and the French use a Euro-oak for wine and Brandy. Do some experiments with the oak you can get your hands on the easiest, look over the site here there is a suggested regiment to prep new oak...but above all, keep good notes...is in :- what toast did use use? how much oak per gallon etc. And how does it taste? Then post your results here on HD, you never know, you may discover a new resource for us all !

[Badmotivator]

On this page they mention that Quercus virginians has been used for barrels: http://www.wood-database.com/live-oak/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

It doesn't mention whether it was used for it's structural suitability alone (for example, for dry goods) or for its flavor contribution to spirits.

Be sure to cut it down into small pieces and weather it for a long time before using it, or you will get strong and harsh tannin from the wood.