System and Process for Reducing The Time Required to Age A Raw Distillate by Expedited Aging

A process for expedited aging of a distillate comprising:

• feeding a fluid into a treatment section under pressure, vacuum or a combination thereof,
• wherein the treatment section is comprised of at least one treatment cartridge charged with wood pieces,
• circulating the fluid in the treatment section under pressure,
• holding at least one treatment cartridge under pressure or vacuum,
• repeating the steps of circulating the fluid in the treatment section under pressure, and of holding at least one treatment cartridge under pressure or vacuum.

A process for expedited aging of a distillate comprising:

• forming a closed circulation pathway comprising a pressure pump, a first vessel, and a second vessel operable to prevent loss of volatile fluid components,
• charging the first vessel with a fluid and wood pieces, circulating the fluid from the first vessel to the second vessel by applying any one or more of pressure, vacuum, or a combination thereof to the fluid,
• holding at least one of the vessels under either pressure or vacuum,
• circulating the fluid from the second vessel to the first vessel by applying pressure to the fluid sufficient to cause the fluid to flow in the system in the closed circulation pathway.