How do I add whiskey to secondary fermenter?

Just dump it in there gently. You won't oxidize it anymore than you already did transferring it to secondary. If you were going to do that, you should have added your cubes and whiskey to the secondary first, and then rack the beer on top of it for aging. That would minimize your movement of the beer from vessel to vessel.

I wouldn't even worry about bagging the cubes honestly, just drop 'em in loose.

Admittedly, some of the flavors of barrel aged beer, is the oxidization taking place during the aging in the barrels. You'll be fine.

 

What I did for my recent Bourbon Barrel Porter was I added the oak cubes (no bag) and Bourbon to the carboy and then siphoned the beer into the carboy.

You made mention of: “As for the whiskey, what is the best way to do this without risking oxidation?” Is there a specific oxidation risk that you are concerned about?

Cheers!

Edit: I missed the part of where the beer is already in the secondary. In the immortal words of Emily Litella: "never mind".

 

I just did my first oaked bourbon addition. Poured the oak with bourbon, no bag, as smoothly as I could.

Even thou you didn't ask, I'll give you the advice that was given to me. Despite the kit saying add 16 oz, I'd start with 8 oz as you can always add more. I did 8 oz and although I'd perhaps of considered adding 1 or 2 more oz for taste, I made the call that the nose was already enough bourbon, boozy to decided not to add more.

 

How long did you soak the cubes? If for a significant amount of time, I might not even add the whiskey at all...just the cubes.

 

Don't know if you're asking me or the OP. I soaked mine for two weeks before adding to secondary.

 

I think it's Ryan on here that's been soaking some of his cubes for multiple years, which supposedly yields a different result. It's not necessary from a sanitation stand-point, but interesting nonetheless.

 

I just add a bit of bourbon or rye or whatever, don't even bother with the oak.

 

I've heard people say to boil the cubes, then add the spirit, then dump the spirit and add the oak.

Seems like waste of a good tincture myself. The spirit has had some of the wood flavor and vice versa.

 

Gomennasai Ryane sensei, I spelled your name wrong.