Why Blend Whiskey? There are a huge number of factors that can influence a whiskey's flavor before and during the aging process. While process and science can significantly improve the consistency of fermentation and distillation, all bets are off once the white dog hits the barrel. Different parts of a rickhouse will experience different temperatures, causing variation in the amount of extraction of barrel compounds and evaporation. The barrels themselves can have variability in wood grain, density, and chemical composition that further influence that barrel's unique character. Many afficionados take joy in the search for "honey barrels" or specific single barrels that may stand out from the pack, but this can cut both ways with poor picks being a bit of a let down. For established brands with flagship products, ensuring consistency in flavor is critical to maintaining their fanbases and reputations. Enter "Blending", quite simply the process of mixing tog...