system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
ELI5: What happens to alcholic products like wine or whisky when they are 'aged' and what is the point in doing so?
gpt
Basically to add flavor and mellow the alcohol. Once the distillation process is done you have a clear alcohol, think moonshine or everclear. Once it's put into the barrels the alcohol is absorbed into the wood, circulating in and out of the wood. During this process it picks up flavors and color from the wood. This helps mellow the flavor. The longer it's aged and more flavors are imparted to the alcohol. This is why younger whiskies are lighter and "harsher" than older, generally darker ones. Same process for wine as well.