An American Oak single malt whisky is whisky that has been purely matured in American Oak ex-bourbon barrels. At Hellyers Road, our American Oak single malt is matured in full-sized 200 litres American Oak ex-bourbon barrels.

An American Oak single malt whisky has classic notes of vanilla, coconut, caramel and honey.

Our American Oak ex-bourbon barrels are sourced from leading bourbon distilleries such as Jack Daniel's and Heaven Hill. They form the backbone of our bond store with 90% of all our casks used being American oak ex-bourbon barrels.

Hellyers Road matures its American Oak whisky in traditional full-sized 200 litre ex-bourbon barrels. 

North West Tasmania's climate is ideal for maturing American Oak whisky. The Southern Ocean and the Roaring Forties bring our cool, temperate and maritime climate. Combined with Hellyers Road's use of full size 200L American oak barrels, these conditions produce complexity and character that can't be replicated anywhere else.

Yes. All Hellyers Road American Oak Single Malt Whisky is certified Pareve Kosher.

Hellyers Road oldest American Oak single cask whisky to date is the American Oak 22 year old single cask #2325.03 with 23, 24 and 25 year old single casks being released in 2026 and 2027.

American oak is widely used to mature whisky because it is readily available, cost-effective and produces excellent flavour. In the United States, bourbon must be aged in new, charred American oak barrels, which creates a steady supply of high-quality ex-bourbon casks after their first use. For generations, Scotch whisky producers have used these casks because they are more affordable, while also imparting classic flavours such as vanilla, caramel and honey.

American Oak typically contributes to sweeter flavours such as vanilla, caramel and honey, while French Oak tends to add notes like spice, toasted nuts and tannins.
Although each oak species contributes different flavour profiles, it's the wood's structure that has the biggest influence on how the whisky develops over time.