Patent ID: 10633620

Abstract:
Accelerated spirit or beverage aging methods and associated systems are provided. One aging method is to soak selected wood fibers or chips with spirits or beverages in presence of subcritical, critical, and supercritical carbon dioxide. Another aging method is to treat selected wood fibers or chips in subcritical, critical, and supercritical carbon dioxide followed by soaking with spirits and/or beverages. A system for spirit or beverage aging and/or wood treatment is also provided. The system is comprised of a carbon dioxide supply device; a subcritical, critical, and supercritical carbon dioxide performance vessel; a mesh cage device; and a carbon dioxide separation and recycle device. Wood or treated wood can be further impregnated with natural flavors, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and therapeutics in a subcritical, critical, and supercritical carbon dioxide environment. Treated wood and/or impregnated wood is then combined with spirit/beverage and soaked in ambient, vacuum, pressure, or CO2 environment to obtain an aged and flavor enriched spirit or beverage.