Strathisla 1976 Whisky Barrel Chunks – 500g

I make these Strathisla whisky barrel chunks from the original oak staves of a reclaimed Strathisla-Glenlivet cask marked 1976. Small pieces, freshly cut, with grain you can see and the old stave surfaces still there. The oak carries a distinct whisky aroma, and the Strathisla source gives your own project a particular starting point.

The whisky-facing side of the stave

Look at the darker side of a chunk and you are seeing the inside of the stave: the face that was charred during barrel preparation and later sat against the whisky. The spirit did not simply sit on top of it. During maturation it worked into the oak below the surface, leaving an aroma that is still distinct when I cut the wood.

That exchange is what makes American white oak so interesting to work with. It absorbs spirit into the grain and releases oak-derived aromas in return, with vanilla, coconut and sweet oak among its familiar notes. I keep that whisky-contact surface alongside the fresh cuts, so the pieces carry both sides of the stave's story.

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 orchard fruit, heather and honey, taking their cue from Strathisla'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 a brown ale or strong amber 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 Strathisla 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.