I am in the middle of a trip to the Cognac region of France. I will write about this remarkable alcohol in the coming weeks. One of the most important components in making Cognac is the oak barrel, ...

Napa Valley residents are used to seeing wooden wine barrels: in wine caves, stacked outside warehouses and even cut in half and filled with flowers on neighborhood lawns. Barrels are everywhere in ...

Russ Karasch opened a plastic bag filled with strips of wood the color of the best part of a piece of toast. “Smell this,” he said. The aroma was intoxicatingly comforting, like roasting a chocolatey ...

Glass of whisky cognac or bourbon in ornamental glass next to a vinatge wooden barrel on a rustic wood and dark background. Whiskey is more than just a blend of grains and water. It is a spirit that ...