What is the main characteristic of bourbon’s aging process?

The primary characteristic of bourbon’s aging process is that it is aged in charred oak barrels. This is essential for bourbon production, as the interaction between the spirit and the charred wood imparts distinctive flavors, color, and aroma to the whiskey. The charring process caramelizes the sugars in the wood, resulting in rich notes like vanilla, caramel, and spice, which are hallmarks of a well-aged bourbon. Additionally, the use of new charred oak barrels is a legal requirement for a spirit to be classified as bourbon, ensuring that it develops its unique characteristics through this specific aging method.

In contrast, aging bourbon in used barrels would not conform to legal standards for bourbon and would result in a different flavor profile. Moreover, not aging the whiskey at all would remove the complexity that aging brings, while aging in ceramic containers would fail to provide the necessary wood interactions that are crucial for bourbon's development.