The Kentucky Climate

A rickhouse's elevation and exposure to sun, wind, and precipitation all affect how the whiskey inside will age. Open-rick warehouses are built to maximize airflow, allowing the barrels to experience bigger temperature shifts and more air circulation than other rickhouse designs, such as palletized warehouses. Heat transfers throughout the rickhouse by the process of convection, in which air moves because some parts are heavier than others. The hotter, lighter air rises to the upper floors, and the cooler, more dense air sinks to the bottom. Our crews periodically open and close windows to help with the
convection effect. In the summer, windows on upper
floors are often opened and you'll feel a lot of air
movement on a hot day. In winter, windows are left closed. Since our buildings are not climate controlled, we use our
tasting expertise to mingle barrels from different parts of the rickhouses to create consistent taste profiles. As the air outside moves from low to high, it shifts the atmospheric pressure inside, producing airflow that circulates throughout the barrels.

A rickhouse's elevation and exposure to sun, wind, and precipitation all affect how the whiskey inside will age. Open-rick warehouses are built to maximize airflow, allowing the barrels to experience bigger temperature shifts and more air circulation than other rickhouse designs, such as palletized warehouses. Heat transfers throughout the rickhouse by the process of convection, in which air moves because some parts are heavier than others. Read More »

Inside the Rickhouse

The temperatures inside a rickhouse vary vastly, as much as 15° F between floors. The top floors are hotter and drier, causing water to evaporate and driving the proof as high as 145 or more. The lower floors are more moist and cool, and alcohol evaporates, dropping the proof.

Changes Over Time

As the seasons shift, the maximum and minimum temperatures for each floor continue to change. The hottest days and coldest evenings continue to draw the liquid in and out of the barrel over the years, producing the rich, smooth flavors beloved in our whiskey portfolio.

COMPARE THE MAX & MIN
TEMPERATURES FOR TWO MONTHS: