Whiskey flavor is influenced by everything from the grain recipe to the final maturation period. Corn commonly provides a rounded and sweet impression, while rye contributes distinctive peppery and spicy qualities. Fermentation creates compounds that can produce fruit-like aromas, and distillation influences the concentration of different flavor compounds. During barrel aging, whiskey extracts characteristics from charred oak, including vanilla, caramel, toasted wood, coconut, and spice.