In case you missed it, there’s a growing market for gadgets and devices that allow you to age your own whiskey, rum, or other spirits without the need for a large warehouse and barrels. These innovative products come in various forms, such as miniature barrels for display or wooden pieces that you can drop into your bottle. They all serve one purpose: to rapidly expose the spirit to oak and simulate the aging process.
However, there’s a new player in town that offers a more advanced and high-tech solution. Modern Barrel Company has introduced the Moba Smart Barrel, a plug-in, Wi-Fi-enabled urn that can transform a regular bottle of booze into a barrel-aged version in just one week. The Moba Smart Barrel is the brainchild of a chemist and another entrepreneur, who have combined their expertise to create this innovative device.
So, how does the Moba Smart Barrel work? While the exact details are kept secret, the process is said to involve heat, oxygen, and wood. It can be compared to a cross between a pressure cooker and a pint-size water heater. The device includes an M-Stack, a small block of wood attached to a metal pole. This pole is placed inside a metal flask filled with the chosen spirit. Once sealed, you simply hit the power button, and the device gently heats the wood while agitating the spirit, possibly with vibrations or other movements.
The Moba Smart Barrel offers five types of M-Stacks, each made from American white oak and treated differently before use. These M-Stacks, named Sweet, Smooth, Baking Spice, Oak, and Smoke, have unique characteristics and are recommended for specific types of spirits. Modern Barrel provides suggestions on the best pairings for each M-Stack, making it easier for users to choose the right one for their desired flavor profile. The Moba Smart Barrel comes with two wood tiles for testing purposes.
Although originally designed for aging blanco tequila, the founders of the Moba Smart Barrel claim it works well with various spirits. They have tested it on baijiu, Southern Comfort, mezcal, and even “barreled” cocktails like the Manhattan, with positive results.
In the testing phase, a bottle of inexpensive agave blanco tequila was paired with the Baking Spices M-Stack. After one week in the Moba Smart Barrel, the tequila transformed into a significant shade of brown, resembling a reposado or añejo tequila in color. However, the taste did not match the expectations. The aged tequila had a smoky nose and a dominant taste of tannic wood and burning underbrush, completely lacking the expected sweetness of a reposado tequila. In comparison, the original blanco tequila offered a fresh, clean taste with hints of white pepper. The aged version was not enjoyable on its own or as a mixer.
Moving on to a classic experiment, a bottle of Old Crow bourbon was selected for extra aging using the Sweet M-Stack. The outcome was different this time. The aged Old Crow, referred to as Older Crow, displayed a darker color and a more pronounced wood influence on the nose and palate. The wood elements were heavy, drying, and tannic, which stripped away some of the natural sweetness from the bourbon. However, the aged whiskey also showcased an amplified nuttiness, along with exciting notes of cinnamon and clove. While the added complexity was appreciated, the overall result was considered unbalanced and too focused on raw wood elements. In terms of quality, the original and aged versions of Old Crow bourbon were deemed equally good.
The Moba Smart Barrel provides a convenient and time-efficient way to achieve an aged taste in spirits. It allows enthusiasts to experiment with different M-Stacks and spirits, creating unique flavor combinations. However, as seen in the testing, the results may vary, and personal taste preferences play a significant role in the overall enjoyment of the aged spirit.
Whether you prefer traditional barrel aging or the convenience of high-tech gadgets like the Moba Smart Barrel, the world of spirits continues to evolve, offering new and exciting ways to appreciate the complexity and depth of aged beverages.
