first time aging on oak

[Beam]

i have a question and im not 100 percent sure why this has happened and whether its still drinkable but i did my first oaking with bourbon staves still spirit variety, well it say on the packet to leave them in for 7-10 days i left them in for 8-9 days and when i put it into a bottle it just had a woody taste and not much else i could smell the bourbon in the liquid when they were soaking but thats it why hasnt the flavour increased? and how does the aging process work? as im new to this, i added a turkey essence too to try and get some kinda flavour but theres quite weak actually. thank you

[HolyBear]

Hey there Beam,.. I don't have any experience with store baught staves, but... it sounds to me like they weren't toasted at a high enough temp... At low/no temps, you jes get a wood taste. 350 minimum, 375 seems about right for my tastes wrapped in foil. Additional char with a torch brings out the color and something else, maybe smokey?

[Beam]

thanks for the reply although it does say on the packet, deeply charred 100% american oak

[rtalbigr]

At 7-10 days all you're gonna get is a woody taste no matter how the wood is toasted/charred. Aging with oak takes considerably more time, more like 7-10 months.

Big R

[Beam]

thanks for the reply so 7-10 months after oak is removed correct? if so then thats good its all just a waiting game then

[zouthernborne]

No, he's saying leave the oak in for 7-10 months. Not much going to happen in your aging vessel with just the color from the wood added. You have to leave the wood in and let the spirit seep in and out of the oak. It's all about time. Leave the wood in and leave it alone.

[watoom]

I have been using these staves but I disregarded the instructions to leave for only 7-10 days and have left it for over a month now, the flavour developing is quite good.