This product is made up of chips of French Oak that have been used to mature a Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay wine. Chips are one of several wood preparations that are used in the liquor industry to produce the oaking effect of a traditional barrel but at a lower cost and with much less hassle. Because they are fully immersed in the wine, all surfaces have been exposed and the flavour potential for re-use in spirit-making is maximised.

Chardonnay oak/barrels don’t actually see widespread use in the whiskey industry, but are known for certain notable releases like the Glen Moray Chardonnay Cask 10 Year Old Scotch. They produce a much lighter-coloured spirit than red-wine oaks, so will work well in conjunction with our French or Hungarian Oak Merlot sticks to build flavour without turning your whiskey quite so dark red. They are also THE go-to oak if trying for an oaked gin.

This listing is for 150 grams of chips. Please note that our website and Trade Me prices typically differ. Not all products and sizes are listed here.

The flavours that these chips may impart include a lighter fruitiness than the red-wine equivalents, plus potential vanilla and hazelnut flavours from the oak itself. The harshness of the virgin French Oak will have been largely tamed by their first life in a vat of chardonnay.

Chips have been rinsed of all yeast lees and the vast majority of tartrate deposits. Some tartrate remains as light crystalline deposits on some chips. These tend not to dissolve much, but may introduce a faint tartness and some trace chardonnay flavours to the whiskey that should be considered part of the genuine flavour profile of this oak.

Directions: Immerse chips directly into the spirit. A small starting amount can always be added to later on if more flavour is needed. A recommended dose to work with is 20 grams per litre of spirit.

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