Barrel Aged Cocktails: Who, What, Where, Why, & How?

There's a new trend sweeping the cocktail scene.  Much like the process in aging wine, mixologists are taking the same technique and applying it to the newest cocktail creations.  It's called barrel aging.
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Who?

While the idea of barrel aging cocktails was reinvigorated by Tony Conigliaro, a mixologist at London's famed 69 Colebrooke Row, and then introduced to the U.S. by Jeffrey Morgenthaler, a bar manager at Clyde Common's in Portland, Oregon, Jerry Thomas, "the father of mixology," was known to use this procedure decades earlier.

What?

Barrel aged cocktails are pre-mixed cocktails and spirits that are placed in barrels, just like those used to age wine, and left to absorb the tastes of the wood that it's encased in.  There is no precise amount of time the barrels are left to sit, it's just a matter of taste.  The liquor experiences oxidation, in which it takes on a different flavor, texture, and look.

Where?

Barrel aging cocktails is gradually taking presence in many bars around the world, but the practice is becoming increasingly popular in homes.  Barrels are available in a variety of woods and sizes online, with prices ranging from $60 to as much as $200.

Why?

Barrel aging cocktails and spirits is a relatively low-fuss and unique method to create one-of-a-kind drinks.  It's a step back from the traditional pour-and-serve routine and blends an old fashion method to a modern trend.  The only down side is the waiting time, but if patient, the result is worth it.

How?

The process is quite simple.  Once in posession of a barrel, you either pour a specific spirit such as a bourbon in the barrel and let it age, or, if your heart so desires, make a cocktail within the barrel such as a Manhattan.  In this case, depending on the size of the barrel, serving sizes are based on bottles and not so much milliliters.  The next step is simply, wait.  Mixologists recommend tasting your spirit every week so you can decide on just how "woody" you prefer its taste.  Once you have decided that it has acquired the taste you want, extract it into glass bottles and let sit for sometime so that the all the attributes blend evenly.  The final step, enjoy!