It has to be the wood that he provides in this instance.
I think I'm going to test a few options. I don't have high hopes for stabilization just because of the nature of this wood specifically, but I'm going to try it anyway.
I'm also looking pretty hard at the CPES resins. I have no problem letting it soak up and then sit for a few days. I'd probably have to do the same treatment to the brush handles and stands just to keep a uniform look to the whole set.
Also going to try some various oils like real teak oil, walnut oil, etc... Probably pour enough to submerse the finished turning for a day or more and let it really wick into the wood. My only concern with this method is the heat build up of the drying process if it really sucks up that much.
The trick will be how to simulate long term exposure of use. I'll probably apply then finish and then track the weight dry and after being submersed in water for various amounts of time. If it picks up too much weight, it's obviously not sealed very well.
In my view, properly stabilised wood would be your best option...!
I have never stabilised white-Oak even though I have some wood from 2 barrels I dismantled, one from American oak the other of French oak, they are also well soaked (1/3) from alcohol (wine to Port) and If I was in your situation, and the client would be OK with losing the whisky smell from the wood, I would cut my blanks oversize and boil them in water. To note that the blanks should only be inserted in the water after it is boiling...!
They would require to stay in the boiling water until the whisky stain be gone, the boiling will remove the alcohol in the wood and will do wonders for the stabilisation process. The wood after being boiled will dry naturally very quickly (a few days) but, you can accelerated the process buy putting the blanks in an oven at 80 or 90° until they are bone dry.
At this stage, I would wait for the blanks to cool down and them putting them in the vacuum chamber with the Cactus Juice. Hot wood would activate the juice to a degree so, feeling the wood temp in your hand, I like to start stabilising when I hardly can feel any heat in the blank, and before it soaks any moisture in the air, in the vacuum chamber they go...!
If you are willing to do some test and have enough wood to play with, I would suggest you try this and let me/us know of the results...!
Good luck,
Cheers
George