You kind of went from firewood ID to whiskey. I know you said for a project, but we don't always read the details. All the answers are spot on for ID, but not for making whiskey. Are you going to make a mini cask or just drop a piece of wood in a gallon glass jug? If you Wiki White Oak and Chestnut Oak you will see that White Oak is used for making Whisky and Wine, Chestnut Oak is not. They are in the same family, but are not that same. I just cut and split some dead White Oak yesterday, it is one of the most pleasant smelling woods. Most of my firewood is Chestnut Oak, and it can smell quite rancid. If all you want is a chunk of wood to drop in a batch of corn squeezin's, buy an old whisky barrel and use a piece of it, it will already be charred. Charring is where the color and taste come from. I think if you just let the tannic acid do it's stuff the liquor will come out black. But, I've never tried, so not sure. If you don't like it, use the rest for a camp fire, the barrel that is, makes the whole neighborhood smell good. I don't think I'd use Chestnut Oak, but, I could be wrong on that too, Joe.