Clynelish 1997 Whisky Barrel Chunks – 500g

I cut these Clynelish whisky barrel chunks from the original oak staves of a reclaimed cask marked 1997. Fresh cut faces reveal the grain inside, while the original surfaces stay with each little piece. The wood still carries a distinct whisky aroma; its Clynelish source gives you something more individual to explore than an anonymous bag of oak.

The whisky-facing side of the stave

The darker inner face is the side that touched the whisky inside the cask. It was charred when the barrel was prepared, long before I cut these chunks. During maturation, spirit soaked into the oak beneath that surface; the aroma left in the grain is part of what makes this reclaimed wood worth keeping.

American white oak is more than a container for whisky. It takes up spirit within its grain while giving back its own aromatic character, often associated with vanilla, coconut and sweet oak. These pieces bring the original inner surface and freshly opened grain together, ready for another small oak experiment.

I cut and pack the wood at Barrel Craft Studio, my one-man workshop near Loch Lomond in Scotland. It is unpainted barrel oak, with no added treatment after cutting.

Aroma to explore

The chunks may retain hints of waxiness, dried flowers, fresh fruit and a coastal edge, taking their cue from Clynelish's whisky style. These are possible aroma directions inferred from the distillery's profile, rather than tasting notes measured for this batch. The source cask and your own method will shape what you discover.

Three ways to give the oak a new use

• Spirit infusion: explore oak finishing with rum, neutral spirit or an existing whisky, using suitably prepared wood in a small trial.

• Home-brewed beer: try oak conditioning with an amber ale or strong golden ale, after preparing the wood for brewing. Treat the style pairing as an experiment.

• BBQ smoking: use as smoking wood in a suitable charcoal barbecue or smoker for meat, fish or vegetables, following your equipment's guidance.

Your 500g pack

One 500g net pack of Clynelish barrel-stave chunks. Piece sizes, shapes and grain vary. The year marking identifies the cask; it is not a whisky age statement. No additional treatment after cutting; supplied not sanitised. Prepare appropriately before contact with drinks. Use small trials and check progress; there is no single dose or contact time for every drink.

The barrel is not included. Lifestyle images illustrate possible uses; the original photographs show the actual barrel wood.