Eli5: how is it possible that a wooden barrel, which is used for aging alcohol, does not rot away.

Question

Or how do they prevent it from rotting for such a long period of time.

I cant imagine that they use multiple wooden barrels during an aging proces of 30 years or so. Because it would interupt the proces, I geuss?

In: 71

Answer 1

Wood rots when it is subjected to dry and wet cycles. If dry it will never rot and if wet it will never rot