Why is “older” whiskey generally considered better than “newer” whiskey? And does this apply to all alcohol?

Question

Why is “older” whiskey generally considered better than “newer” whiskey? And does this apply to all alcohol?

In: 5690

Answer 1

Freshly distilled whiskey is clear, and doesn’t have much flavor.

One of the final steps in whiskey production is aging. This is done inside wooden barrels, with slightly burnt/charred interiors. The wood barrel can soak up some of the whiskey – over time, whiskey passes in and out of the wood, carrying with it some of the flavorful and colorful compounds present in the charred wood. The longer the whiskey is allowed to sit in the barrel, the more flavor and color is released from the wood. Many of the more reactive and volatile compounds also break down or evaporate over time, which mellows the flavor.