I'm a Maker's Mark Ambassador, and at one of their tasting events their master distiller said that in fact that is how most of the bourbon distilleries dispose of their once-used barrels. The bourbon distilleries will only use a charred oak barrel once for aging, and then they sell/give them to the scotch distilleries, who might use them several times. That's why bourbon is always darker than Scotch.
The other reason is that it's the temperature swings in bourbon-producing areas drive the spirits into and out of the wood as the temperature swings (expansion and contraction)...
Im a bourbon drinker who's ready to expand into Scotch/Irish. From all that Ive read Islay is likely where Ill begin.
Recommend anything in particular?
Zenmaster, if you don't like the peaty islay taste, don't give up on scotch. Try a nice speyside like Cragganmore. There are several distinct types of scotch, but islay and speyside seem to cover most of us. It's sort of Ford/Chevy.
I do my own version of Old Fashioned. Almost all others are too sweet for me.
Here is my version:
cocktail glass filled with ice.
two or three dashes Blood Orange Bitters (or other orange bitters)
Fill with whisky/whiskey/bourbon/rye
Add one teaspoon Luxardo cherry syrup with one/two cherries.
Stir. (I will drink with rocks or up depending on how I feel)
Garnish with expressed Orange peel
Repeat.
I just discovered the old fashioned this week. (been drinking bourbon for years on the rocks) I like it.
Though you mentioned other syrups, I thought an old fashioned was just whiskey/bourbon, bitters, and water? (and an orange garnish maybe)
I'm really digging Angostura orange bitters.
PORTER, with either a splash of VANILLA or a splash of WALNUT.
I just discovered the old fashioned this week. (been drinking bourbon for years on the rocks) I like it...
Redemption, Buffalo Trace, and Jameson for me please
I was just gifted a bottle of Makers 46 a month before Christmas.
It was for a "job well done".
I installed a couple of raised flower beds for a vegetable garden.
Wasn't hard work, and I was NOT expecteing a bonus like that!
Tasty stuff.
I always have a bottle of the Woodford in my cabinet.
Drank some Iraq bootleg stuff one time called “American Beauty” had a half nude blonde chick on the label!
Yea it hurt the next day.