What happens to the color of spirits as a result of barrel aging?

The process of barrel aging significantly influences the color of spirits, primarily due to interactions with the wood. When spirits such as whiskey or rum are aged in barrels, they gradually extract compounds from the wood, including color pigments, tannins, and vanillin, which contribute to the overall hue of the spirit. As time goes on, these ingredients deepen the color, leading to a darker appearance.

In addition to the infusion of color from the wood, the evaporation of certain compounds during aging—often referred to as the "angel's share"—can also enhance the richness of the remaining liquid, contributing further to the darker color. This deepening effect is particularly evident in spirits aged for several years or more.

The other options do not accurately reflect the impact of barrel aging on color. Cloudiness typically results from filtration or other processes and is not a result of aging in wood. An unchanged color would imply no interaction with the barrel, which does not occur in practice, as the wood visibly affects the spirit's characteristics. Lightening of color during aging is contrary to the common effects observed, as prolonged barrel contact usually intensifies the color rather than diminishing it.