The barrel wood used for the Kentucky-based distillery came from 300-year-old oak trees that had been previously harvested on site.

The average oak tree has a life cycle of 200 years which meant barrel manufacturer East Bernstadt Company took more than two years to procure and stave season the wood before the barrels were produced.

Harlen Wheatley, master distiller, said: “It’s a unique opportunity to be able to experiment with a variable that is even older than our Distillery, which is 244 years old.”

The barrels were placed in an aging warehouse in December and will remain there for at least six years.