Interesting fact:

The Speyside Cooperage holds the Guinness World Record for the fastest time to build a 190-liter (50-gallon) barrel. This record was set on 29 April 2017 by a team at the Speyside Cooperage Visitor Centre in Scotland. The record-breaking time was 3 minutes and 3 seconds.

There are three primary types of casks used in the aging of whisky: butts, barriques, and hogsheads. Each of these has a unique history, specific characteristics, and a distinct role in the maturation process.

Butts:
The term "butt" originates from the Medieval Latin word "buttis," which referred to a large cask or barrel. This word likely has its roots in the Greek word "bouttis," also denoting a container for storing liquids. In the world of whisky, a butt is a large cask typically holding around 500 liters (approximately 110 gallons). Butts are traditionally used in the aging of sherry, which gives them a distinctive influence when repurposed for whisky. A butt typically consists of 32 to 36 staves, meticulously crafted and fitted together to ensure a watertight seal. The size of a butt allows for a slower interaction between the wood and the whisky, which is ideal for long-term aging and imparting deep, rich flavors.

Barriques:
The word "barrique" comes from the French language and traces its origins to the Old Provençal term "barrica," meaning a small barrel. This term, likely derived from the late Latin "barrica," was commonly associated with the Bordeaux wine region, where barriques became the standard for aging wine. A barrique typically holds about 190 - 225 liters (around 50 - 54 gallons) and has 19 to 24 staves. The smaller size compared to a butt allows for a more intense interaction between the wood and the liquid, often resulting in more pronounced flavors in a shorter period. The barrique's influence on the whisky is notable, as it can impart a range of flavors depending on the type of liquid previously stored in it.

Hogsheads:
The term "hogshead" has a more uncertain etymology but is believed to derive from the Anglo-Saxon phrase "hogges hede," which may have originally referred to a unit of measurement. Another theory is that it evolved from the term "oxhead," referring to a large container, which through linguistic changes, became "hogshead." A hogshead typically holds about 250 liters (approximately 56 gallons) and consists of 28 to 32 staves. These casks are commonly used in whisky aging due to their size, which offers a balanced interaction between the wood and the whisky. Hogsheads are often made by repurposing staves from smaller barrels, particularly American oak barrels used in the bourbon industry.