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In the accepted answer to this question, it was said that bourbon can make a half-decent substitute for vanilla. I fail to understand how because the primary flavor component is vanillin and as far as i know, there is no vanillin in bourbon.

What characteristics of bourbon are analogous to vanilla? Is the similarity due to the alcohol content of vanilla extracts? Or is there another reason?

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Bourbon, by legal definition is aged in a fresh oak barrel. The oak heartwood naturally contains aromatic compounds including (you guessed it) vanillin—the primary flavor component of vanilla itself.

But beyond the already-present aromatics, the wood is further treated to produce even more flavor. About 20% of the oak's mass is made of lignins. When exposed to temperatures of 750° F the lignin breaks down to more aromatics including, once again, vanillin. Your bourbon barrel is charred in an open gas burner for 15—45 seconds, making these flavors ready for extraction into your bourbon. The alcohol will then be able to further break down some of the solid mass and dissolve the aromatics.

So bourbon is a good vanilla substitute because of the relatively high portion of vanillin that it contains

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  • That is cool, I didn't even think about things like external factors like where it is stored!
    – Dharini Chandrasekaran
    Jun 21, 2012 at 21:37
  • @DhariniChandrasekaran: Where it is stored is what makes it bourbon.
    – baka
    Jun 21, 2012 at 22:33
  • @baka: I drink very rarely, so have no idea :)
    – Dharini Chandrasekaran
    Jun 21, 2012 at 22:36
  • @baka - that, and the grains used to make the mash have to be at least 51% corn.
    – PoloHoleSet
    Sep 23, 2016 at 15:29

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