Whisky-Barrel Finished Jacob's Creek to Launch in Australia

23 Jun 2014 --- Driven by a culture of wine innovation and a desire to craft a new wine style, the winemakers at Jacob’s Creek sourced aged barrels that had cradled Premium whiskies for up to 20 years, and started experimenting.

Using quality grapes from selected Barossa and Coonawarra vineyards, Jacob’s Creek chief winemaker Bernard Hickin crafted red wines which were first matured in French and American oak barrels, before being finished in 20-year-old whisk(e)y barrels to create complementary flavours.

Bernard Hickin said “Each barrel performs differently, so it took time to understand the true effect on the wines, and achieve a result that was perfectly balanced. We discovered that finishing the wines in aged whisk(e)y barrels introduced additional intricacy and a smoother texture, due to the fundamental differences between barrels made for ageing whisk(e)y, and those crafted to age wine. We do stress that it’s more of a finishing process – it’s not an aging process.”

The barrels were drained and dried out in order to the flavour of the old timber to come through, and not the wines to exhibit strong whisky characters.

Hickin added: “The use of Scotch whisky barrels to finish our Double Barrel Shiraz has imparted additional layers of complexity and smoothness, which combine beautifully with the rich varietal plum, fruit cake and chocolate notes of Barossa Shiraz. On the other hand, finishing Double Barrel Cabernet Sauvignon in Irish whiskey barrels has integrated the black fruit flavours and aromatic herbal notes, softened the tannins and, most noticeably, added real richness throughout the palate.”

Double Barrel will play a strategic role in the Jacob’s Creek portfolio by providing a trade up between Reserve and the brand’s fine wine portfolio. At the start of the journey a portfolio gap for a masculine range targeting premium+ red wine drinkers was identified, which led to the development of Double Barrel.

Jean-Christophe Coutures, Chairman and CEO of Pernod Ricard Winemakers, said: “Double Barrel is an exciting addition to the Jacob’s Creek - and indeed the wider Pernod Ricard Winemakers - portfolio. Double Barrel challenges conventional winemaking processes, whilst remaining committed to the heritage and provenance of the Jacob’s Creek brand."

This new wine will be available in Australia from 1st July.