American Oak

Wood for American oak barrels is harvested primarily in the Midwest region of the country, from the states of Missouri, Ohio, Kentucky, and Arkansas. American oak is thought to impart more dramatic notes associated with the wood such as vanilla, dill and coconut. American oak species have a tighter wood grain due to an increase in tyloses, the woody growths that seal the pores in the growth rings. American oak barrels are less expensive than their French counterparts, as the tighter grains allow the wood to be processed by sawing rather than splitting, resulting in less waste.