Poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac all contain urushiol, a toxic oil that triggers an allergic rash in most people 12 to 72 hours after contact. Urushiol can spread from contaminated clothing, ...

For centuries, oak has been the winemaker’s and distiller’s collaborator, quietly transforming clear spirits and young wines into something worth savoring. Here’s how the magic unfolds. Liz Provencher ...

Few average Joes can correctly identify every species of oak growing in North America. That’s the kind of Final Jeopardy-level knowledge typically reserved for foresters, wildlife biologists, and very ...

These large, long-lived trees support more life-forms than any other trees in North America. And they’re magnificent. By Margaret Roach When I arrived years ago at the piece of land I now garden, I ...

When it comes to aging bourbon, American oak (Quercus alba) is king. But while American oak barrels account for the vast majority of bourbon aging vessels, their mandatory use is a ...

Christopher Friedmann is an award-winning journalist and has spent over a decade in journalism covering everything from wine & spirits to travel to music, finance, and technology. Mizunara oak, a type ...

Oak bark (Quercus alba) comes from trees of the Fagaceae family, typically white oak varieties native to North America. It’s derived from the inner bark and round growths known as galls that form on ...

Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Dr. Liz Thach writes about wine business and wine lifestyle. When famous fashion designer, Jackson Wiederhoeft, created an $8,000 ...