Ash is found all over the world, but mainly in the Northern hemisphere. Welsh archers used longbows made of Ash, and spear shafts were usually made of Ash. In folklore, Ash is said to have healing and protective qualities.
There are over 60 different varieties of Ash, varying in colour from a very pale 'straw' colour (Ash Blonde) to much darker shades. Generally, I find that most people prefer the darker shades for tankards, so I use Brown Ash, which is almost the same colour as Oak. It usually has a strong grain pattern, showing as brown lines against the paler background colour.
