Barrel-aged gin has become a trendy spirit produced by numerous artisan distillers in America. Actually they are bringing this tradition back as barrel-aged gin has been made on the Spanish island of Menorca for more than two hundred years, with white oak barrels being the preferred vessel.
The current barrel-aged gins made in America have a brown color, derived from the bourbon barrels in which it is matured. This technique gives these gins aromas of vanilla and caramel.
These gins are served either over ice or serve as the base of cocktails such as an Old Fashioned or Manhattan.