Fill is the order of use of the cask.
In the Scotch industry, 1st-fill generally refers to the first time a cask is filled with Scotch spirit. This does not mean that the cask itself is new oak. For example, when a cask containing bourbon comes to Scotland and is used for the first time, it may become 1st-fill ex-bourbon.
| expression | Common roles |
|---|---|
| 1st-Fill | Relatively strong influence of extractable components and previous contents |
| 2nd-Fill | Cask influence is muted and easy to balance with spirit |
| 3rd-Fill | More delicate cask influence, available for longer maturation |
| Re-Fill | A comprehensive expression for barrels that have been used multiple times |
It's not a bad cask if you use it a lot. A refill cask may be more appropriate if you want to preserve the distillery's unique fruity, grainy and waxy character rather than a strong sherry impression. Conversely, casks with excessively low activity may not produce the desired maturation results, making management by the producer important.
To make the Maker Game easier to understand, the rule is that the cask used first has a greater contribution to price and flavor. In reality, cask condition and maturation goals determine price and quality together.