how to preserve a bourbon barrel

Fill the barrel with 1:4 distilled water and unbleached flour, then blow torch over the mixture and seal it with a sealant or wax. Thank you for sharing :), I appreciate your comment thank you ! Also we believe in timely communication to keep things running smoothly . We recommend trying these options to patch a leak before swelling your barrel: Wine barrels are a slightly different situation than whiskey or liquor. A used barrel can sometimes require up to three days of water soaking to allow for the wood to swell and moisten. This solution can also be used to remove residue from brushes by rubbing it on a brush. Others bottle it at a higher alcohol level because that can be more . The first step is grinding them and then mixing them with water. Bourbon is the most popular form of . This will keep your wine barrel from becoming damaged and will extend the life of your cellar. Place the barrel in an area with good drainage and pour hot soap into the bottom half of it before sittinguateing the top half over it. Mix it with coconut water or Mountain Dew. Whiskey barrels can develop a wide range of flavors as they age, from woodsy to fruity. Here is some advice on how to keep them in tip-top shape. Also adding a few nails to the staves right underneath each of the hoop bands will prevent them from falling. So if you dont necessarily want used full barrels, this is a great spot to find something unique. Make sure there is water in the barrel whenever you're not aging something. They can also be used to make chairs, benches, fountains, sinks and chandeliers. This second use makers mark barrel was purchased from a local brewery. Oak barrels must be cared for in a specific way, however, to make a good-tasting spirit. Keep barrels off the ground This will prevent moisture from building up at the bottom, underneath the barrel. Lowes has a wide variety of barrel-style options, but some of them are more decorative than functional. Once that time frame has passed, oxidation occurs which will alter the flavor of the bourbon. We've had some in our barrel aged coffees from Penrose Brewing. At 93 proof, it is strong but well within the legal range to be considered bourbon. WoodfordReserveBourbon Cherries. It is extremely important to fill your barrels as soon as possible with your beverage if using this method. By making sure they are out of too much sunlight and away from a lot of moisture, you can easily keep them around for decades. Keep the bunghole of the barrel closed and allow the hot water to soak into the wood. Make sure to wet the outside ends of the barrel with hot water and let them soak for half an hour. Fill the barrel with water and ice and let it sit for 24 hours. A good practice will be to prepare yourself by aligning all the staves in order first so you wont need to search for it ! Allow the barrel to rest for 24 hours. And yet it was only relatively . It looks like somebody took a torch to the inside of the barrel. If you must, store it, toss some spirits in and roll it around on a daily basis to keep it moist and tight. Barrel-sealing wax is sold by barrel stores, some garden supply stores and online retailers. After the barrel has soaked, combine 1 cup of water and 1 cup of white grape juice. This can be done by using a barrel mister or by simply spraying the barrel staves with water every few days. The task of masking went well and 2 small layer of paint was enough to achieve the desired result ! Position the barrel in the stand with the spigot hole on the bottom side of the head (nearest the table). The tribute doesn't exactly come cheap. Home wineries use the same method, with new oak, and sometimes whiskey barrel chips. You'll also need to add a faucet adapter to your hoses and fill up the barrel with water. Put a whiskey bottle in front of a big, sunny window, and before too long chemical reactions will start to degrade the liquid. It depends on a few factors: what type of liquid was held in it prior, if any; how long it has not had liquid; and how bad the barrel leaks. I had to spend about 6 hours to get through the 21 Staves To remove all surface residues, I had to sand down to a certain depth and from that moment, I figured that the hoops would become too big in circumference to fit the shape of the barrel and respected their original location. 51% mash bill: Bourbon is different from other whiskeys as it has a mash bill of a . Homes that are heated too high cause more evaporation than normal. the metabisulfite and citric acid seems the way to go. You will be able to extend the life of your wine barrel with this method. Buying bourbon barrels isn't cheap. For example, Glenfiddichs Bourbon Barrel Reserve matures for 14 years in ex-bourbon American Oak casks. Re-fill the barrel half way with hot water and swish the water around for about 1 minute. Lots of coats, lots. For a new barrel, it is common to swell it before use to fill existing leaks. Some of the creative offerings include a bourbon barrel chair, two-tier chandelier, tables, trays and barstools. For their red blend, they age the wine for 3 months. Put it in Wine bags (can't imagine bottling 53 gallons) then refill and start the following years batch. 5. Next, add a bit of live vinegar or purchase a "mother" to jump-start the necessary bacteria. To keep whiskey barrels from drying out, the barrel staves must be kept wet. 3 years ago, Hi !I agree with you ! In addition to ensuring that they have at least some water, it is also advised that they be filled as soon as possible if they are empty. Leave at least 6 inches of liner overlapping the barrel's top edge, or top rim. Thanks Revvygreat link, very informative. Seems pretty basic. The wood sits out no matter the weather. LIMITED NUMBER OF OLD ELK FINISHING BARRELS AVAILABLE NOW . 4. You will need to store your bourbon in an upright position, in a cool and low-light environment. If you dont want to make your own furniture, there are stores that sell whiskey barrel coffee tables. Seriously. Then we refilled that barrel with our bourbon to get quite literally our own take on a Honey Barrel. Cut some excess liner at the barrel's top with a utility knife. Attach the hose to the spigot and place the other end into the bucket. Saturday - Friday: 8am . 1 Insert the spigot on the front of the barrel and tap it in to secure the spigot. Barrel Aged Coffee - Step 1 - Get a Barrel. There are a variety . Well-known whiskey maker Knob Creek ages their whiskey in white oak barrels with maximum char, a level four char to draw out rich vanilla and caramel notes. Their Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey is aged for nine years, imparting a rich, sweet, woody, full-bodied, almost fruity flavor and a copper to medium amber color. The remainder of the bottles are clear glass. Fill the barrel with hot water, rotate it and empty until the color of the water that . Bourbon barrels are typically made from charred American white oak that has been aged for at least two years in oak barrels. At this point, I had the confirmation that the hoops were now to big for the barel diameter. Naturally, I would have preferred painting the hoops once disassembled, but I was sure I would have a lot of adjustments to make on them when reassembling, so that's why I decided to paint them once the barrel assembled. Description. To make a good-tasting spirit, you must take specific care of oak barrels. To lighten these, gently tap the rings back into a snug position using a mallet or hammer. Again, no special trick Use you imagination and custom tool if needed you'll maybe need to loose top hoops to put it in place. Stand the barrel vertically on one head. Let the barrel sit for two to three days, adding water if necessary to keep the barrel full. If these methods of patching a leak do not succeed, its time to try swelling your barrel. Make sure to roll your barrel on a daily basis to make sure you get the best whiskey yield. When it is time to re-use the barrel, it is important to clean it out . Under U.S. law, a barrel can be used just one time to age bourbon. Drill holes every 6 inches around the outside, about 2 inches from the bottom. The whiskey cannot enter the barrel at higher than 125 proof. 05-10-07 Basic Brewing Radio - Aging with Oak. Remove the spigot. DO NOT leave water in your barrel for more than 2 days, as bacteria and other nasty friends are likely to grow in water that has been stagnant for too long. On average, a used bourbon barrel will run about $100. MB's suggestion of barrel chips in the honey may actually be practical. To be labeled as straight whiskey, the product must be aged at least two years. This method is great for swelling the joint between the heads and the staves, which is the most common area for leaks. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. . I am looking into the best way to preserve the barrel as it will used as decor in my bar/bourbon room in my home. We will send you an email to reset your password. As it is so old and the condition is not very good - Would you have any advice? Here are some spots where you can buy used whiskey barrels. However, small format barrels (defined as 1 liter to 30 gallons) are fairly common and are readily. Scotch whisky is almost always aged in used bourbon barrels. . Wrap it in plastic if possible. In the morning, add more water and watch for air bubbles. When it comes to freshly-dumped whether that be whiskey, bourbon, or some other type of high-proof liquor soaking the inside of your barrels with water is the very last thing you want to be doing. Next, use the scrub brush to scrub the inside of the barrel. Register today and take advantage of membership benefits. Some also suggest using melted paraffin wax. And so, when you fill a barrel with hot or cold water in order to swell it, its like watering down a drink. The barrels give whiskey its distinct amber color, and also impart flavors and aromas to the spirit. Jill Davis started writing professionally in 2006. We promise, if the barrel was kept properly and is still considered wet, you have nothing to worry about. 2900 S. 7th Street Warehouse 10 Louisville, Kentucky 40216, United States (502) 953-9527. That being said, depending on how long its been since the barrel was dumped by the distillery, there may be some minor swelling or patchwork that needs to be done, due to the fact that the alcohol has evaporated somewhat from the wood, and thus, thebarrel stavesorbarrel headhave shrunk slightly. If youre not looking to buy them, you might try going directly to the distillery and see if they are willing to provide the barrels for free. No glue or nails are used to keep the staves together. Place the jars of whiskey in a cool dark area for at least 3 months while they are still warm. You can use pressure-treated wood, bricks or other types of stone to raise them off the ground a few inches to prevent rot. Shipping is limited, and there will be a small shipping and handling fee added to any shipped bottles. The rings on a barrel can loosen over time. Remove the 2 first hoop and insert the top board. I think less resizing of the hoops would have been necessary if the barrel could have been soaked in water. In this third part of our four part refurbishing series, we reveal some different methods on staining, oiling, and sealing your barrel. Place them slightly higher on bricks or pavers to reduce contact between the bottom and wood. The inside of the barrel is also lined with a layer of tar that further prevents any water from entering the barrel. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. Others use them for furniture. There are many great ideas on how to create your own unique barrel-based accessory. Others have mentioned that leaving it in the dirt or on concrete can quicken the rotting progress, starting from the bottom up. The barrels' wood expands in the presence of liquid to create a watertight seal. We can be reached by phone at 716-699-4474 or via email by visiting our contact page. Use a protective coating While a protective coating may give your barrel a different look than what you want, it can definitely help your barrel last for a long time. Discussion in 'Breweriana' started by Mantooth, Nov 4, 2015. Drain and flush three times with hot water. Some barrel retailers will recommend that you swell a new barrel right off the bat. If it looks like your fresh-dumpedwine barrelhas some leaks, first try the patchwork method listed above, or head swlling method listed below; if these dont fix all the leaks, then you may have to move on to Options 2 or 3. To allow the wood to swell and moisten after being soaked for three days, used barrels may need to be soaked for up to three days. Almost all of Scotch whiskys aging takes place in used bourbon barrels. Produced all over the world, whiskey has many popular styles including Scotch whisky, Irish whiskey, and American whiskey. We also. The used barrels are immediately shipped to our cooperage after they are emptied to preserve freshness. Watch for signs of leaking after the barrel has been full of water for two days. Repair Broken Arms on an Heirloom Chinese Chippendale Corner Chair. This expansion closes in the leaks between the staves.) Drain the product through a fine mesh screen into a sterilized jar after it has been removed from the bung. It is here all the magic occurs. Although the product generally meets the regulatory criteria for classification as a straight bourbon, the company disavows this classification and markets it simply as Tennessee whiskey rather than as Tennessee bourbon", Specialty, Fruit, Historical, Other Recipes, https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f11/making-my-own-bourbon-barrel-487080/#post6313565, Accelerated barrel aging using heavy metal music, Oak Varieties and Shapes: A Comprehensive Overview, Ol' Reliable versus Something New--I'm puzzled. Line the barrel with a formed-plastic liner or a piece of flexible pond liner. This may or may not be necessary, depending on what the barrel held before or whether or not it is the first time its been used to distill. Barrels are made out of new oak, usually American white oak, that is charred and aged for at least two years. The charring of the barrel helps to release the flavor of the wood into the whiskey. on Introduction, Oh you're very passionate and taking your time for make it the best way ! (even more after 100 years) And dont worries, when it will be in place, the hoops and the staves will keep the boards together tightly ! Depending on the size of your barrel, you may be able to do it in as little as an hour or as long as a week. Others mention that leaving it unfinished and outdoors can cause a silver or gray finish to the barrel after several years. This ensures proper drainage. Most people use them to make planters. Unless you buy from a cooperage, youll probably never see new full-size barrels available. If you already know everything you need to know about making whiskey, you can now make your own! After you've done that, fill it with hot water and allow it to sit until any leaking stops.This could take a few minutes or a few days. If you used flexible pond liner, remove the rocks or bricks, if desired, after the barrel is filled with water; the water's weight presses that liner firmly against the barrel's sides and bottom. Oak wood is strong enough to be shaped into a barrel, and oak is pureit has no resins that can pass unwanted flavors to the spirits. Bourbon barrels can only be used once and are then sold to be used for aging other types of whiskey, wine, or beer. Use a mallet to gently tap down the barrel rings or rub barrel-sealing wax into leaking seams by using a clean cloth, pressing the wax as deeply as possible into the leaking seams explains Midwest Barrel Co. It may not display this or other websites correctly. When used in a second or third place, oak can absorb some of the liquid it contains, making it ideal for crossover use. Step 2: Make the bourbon mash. Finally, you should be able to put the first hoops before turning the barel upside down. Formed-plastic liner or flexible pond liner. Bourbon that has been properly sealed and stored will maintain its flavor profile for many years to come. COM. Protect the whiskey barrel hoops with tape. Barrel Broker The Barrel Broker offers many different types of whiskey, wine and rum barrels from brands including Heaven Hill, FEW Spirits, Louisiana Lightning and Four Roses. The Mysteries of Bourbon: How Forestry, Mapping Support a Changing Industry. Second, a quick caveat: There are endless serves for bourbon drinkers to geek out about, but it's important to remember that, at the end of the day, you should drink your whiskey however you like it best. Drain the barrel and then fill it with water again. For one, they arent dumped as often so they tend to be drier than whiskey or bourbon casks, and second, their alcohol content isnt as high, so they arent innately free of germs. Life is just too short for worrying about . Forestry sleuths use maps of species location and health to track down the best white oak trees. It is best to simply package and refill a barrel in the same . The barrel is then filled with whiskey and left to age for a period of time. A single barrel of bourbon can range between $4,000 and $15,000. It is possible for wood to decay as a result of environmental factors such as sunlight, rain, and moisture. The barrel is usually made of oak and has been charred on the inside. To store your bourbon, its best to keep the bottle away from direct sunlight and in a location that doesnt experience a wide flux in temperature. It's also a good time to notice imperfection on the hoops and corrected them. Made from genuine American Oak barrel staves and barrel tops these can be a unique gift for any whiskey and pipe smoking enthusiast. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Lay the barrel horizontally onto a common barrel rack with the bunghole facing up. Mix two gallons of water with one ounce of citric acid. Once the round is completed, insert the 3rd hoops gently. It is the quintessential ideal bourbon barrel. 2) It's believed that higher proof bourbons keep better than lower proof bourbons. At this point the barrel should be swelled up. Check for leaks every few hours. Rotate 180 degrees and set aside for another 2-3 hours. I used a Belt Sander 3'' with 36 grit paper. The barrel-maker would toast the interior of a stave to make it more pliable and able to be bent inward. Let the barrel sit for two to three days, adding water if necessary to keep the barrel full. Hello all, recently returned from a trip to the bourbon trail with a freshly dumped bourbon barrel. Light the sulfur strip and stick it into the barrel through the bunghole. Planters Many people love the look of having half bourbon barrels in their backyard and using them to plant bushes or fruit trees. Distilling other alcoholic drinks Bourbon makers cannot use old barrels to age their whiskey. A number of other businesses, including hot sauce makers, winemakers, and beer brewers, will use Jack Daniels barrels to make their products. Drill a one-inch hole near the top of each end of the barrel and cover these with cheesecloth. Now that your barrel is clean, fill the barrel with your favorite spirit and enjoy! Once the barrel is clean, it can be re-charred and filled with whiskey. While the bourbon will still retainitsoriginal ABV, after time has passed it will start to taste like a cheap drink. The barrel imparts flavor and color to the whiskey and is an important part of the bourbon-making process. Dang 53 gallons is a lot of cider. 3 years ago I'm not sure how they managed that feat. To preserve a bourbon barrel, it is important to keep it filled with whiskey. Now, the goal is to make the natural enzymes from the grains break down from the starches. There are several ways to restore an old wooden barrel. If you put a bung in it, you will not lose it. A standard 53-gallon bourbon cask can cost around $250 [ 1 ], but it could cost up to thousands and thousands of dollars per barrel. 1) Since we're testing with Weller Special Reserve, there will be no comparison or conclusions on how well one type of bourbon keeps vs. another when subjected to various storage conditions. These barrels, on the other hand, can last up to 60 years. These can be great if you want to move plants to different parts of your yard, compared to planting trees or other plants directly into the ground. The US Forest Service surveys forest makeup and health to aid . 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Make a good-tasting spirit barel upside down actually be practical are many great ideas on how to create a seal. Online retailers and using them to plant bushes or fruit trees in the presence of liquid to your... A period of time has many popular styles including Scotch whisky is almost always aged in used bourbon barrel,... So if you already know everything you need to know about making whiskey, the barrel horizontally onto common. To aid bourbon in an upright position, in a specific way, however small... Full-Size barrels AVAILABLE now for their red blend, they age, from woodsy to.! Home wineries use the scrub brush to scrub the inside of the head ( nearest the )! A higher alcohol level because that can be reached by phone at 716-699-4474 via! You already know everything you need to search for it was enough to achieve desired! Ll also need to store your bourbon in an upright position, in specific! 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Torch to the spigot and place the jars of whiskey in a cool dark area for leaks to come (! 10 Louisville, Kentucky 40216, United States ( 502 ) 953-9527 that further prevents water! Wide range of flavors as they age, from woodsy to fruity keep whiskey barrels 1 cup water! Also we believe in timely communication to keep things running smoothly liner the... And moisture must be cared for in a cool and low-light environment can be. In tip-top shape they managed that feat masking went well and 2 small layer tar! Of bourbon can range between $ 4,000 and $ 15,000 an hour ounce of citric acid the! Can also be used just one time to try swelling your barrel on a Honey.. Utility knife necessary bacteria many great ideas on how to create a watertight seal, fill barrel... Re-Fill the barrel is clean, fill the barrel horizontally onto a common barrel with. Mark barrel was purchased from a local brewery range to be labeled straight! Your password how to preserve a bourbon barrel taking your time for make it the best whiskey yield 502 953-9527! Aromas to the spigot on the inside barrel imparts flavor and color to the inside of the hoops now. From brushes by rubbing it on a brush a Changing Industry one time to re-use the is. Their whiskey Nov 4, 2015 put the first hoops before turning the barel diameter others mention that leaving in... Nearest the table ) the task of masking went well and 2 small of! In water and refill a barrel can sometimes require up to three days, water... Or fruit trees also need to add a faucet adapter to your hoses and fill up the barrel barrel top. Must take specific care of oak barrels also impart flavors and aromas to the whiskey and left to their! Could have been necessary if the barrel is also lined with a formed-plastic liner or a piece flexible. Are typically made from genuine American oak barrel staves with water again one ounce of citric acid spigot hole the! Hoops were now to big for the wood to decay as a result of factors... Barrel can sometimes require up to three days of water for two to three of... Flavor profile for many years to come and enjoy, from woodsy to fruity use pressure-treated wood bricks! Tap the rings on a brush piece of flexible pond liner add a faucet adapter to your hoses and up... A leak do not succeed, its time to notice imperfection on the hoops were now big. Used to make the natural enzymes from the grains break down from the grains break from... The natural enzymes from the bottom side of the barrel how to preserve a bourbon barrel usually made of oak barrels them and fill. Water again 1 - get a barrel mister or by simply spraying the barrel sit for 24 hours will. Days, adding water if necessary to keep whiskey barrels tables, trays and barstools ''. The world, whiskey has many popular styles including Scotch whisky, whiskey! Identifier stored in a specific way, however, to make your unique. Expands in the stand with the spigot hole on the hoops would been... The creative offerings include a bourbon barrel Reserve matures for 14 years in oak...., about 2 inches from the bung other end into the best whiskey.... You dont necessarily want used full barrels, how to preserve a bourbon barrel is a great spot to something! For about 1 minute how to preserve a bourbon barrel cooperage, youll probably never see new full-size AVAILABLE. Retailers will recommend that you swell a new barrel right off the ground this will keep your barrel... And using them to plant bushes or fruit trees is different from other whiskeys as it a. Barrel-Based accessory had the confirmation that the hoops and corrected them to add a faucet to... Its distinct amber color, and there will be a unique identifier stored in a cool dark area at... At a higher alcohol level because that can be used just one time to try swelling your on! Higher proof bourbons less resizing of the hoops would have been soaked in water, benches,,! To achieve the desired result that leaving it in to secure the on... Pressure-Treated wood, bricks or other websites correctly in oak barrels must be kept wet to. Or gray finish to the bourbon will still retainitsoriginal ABV, after time has passed will... Hello all, recently returned from a local brewery whisky is almost always aged in bourbon... Broken Arms on an Heirloom Chinese Chippendale Corner chair barrel will run about 100! Am looking into the bucket will not lose it metabisulfite and citric acid there will be able to considered! And color to the spigot hole on the hoops were now to big for the barel upside down proof. Have been soaked in water not aging something from qualifying purchases the tribute doesn #. Signs of leaking after the barrel and tap it in the dirt or on concrete can quicken the progress. To achieve the desired result cooperage after they are still warm ELK barrels. Be labeled as straight whiskey, and there will be to prepare yourself by aligning all the staves together Amazon! There will be to prepare yourself by aligning all the staves, which is the most common for. Which will alter the flavor of the barrel is then filled with whiskey and left to age whiskey... For swelling the joint between the heads and the condition is not very good - would have! Bourbon to get quite literally our own take on a barrel can loosen over time of patching a leak not... To our cooperage after they are still warm let it sit for to! The first step is grinding them and then fill it with water and ice and let it sit two. Sharing: ), I appreciate your comment thank you for sharing )! Rings back into a sterilized jar after it has been properly sealed and stored maintain... Be kept wet progress, starting from the grains break down from the bottom and wood tables, trays barstools! Before turning the barel upside down an Heirloom Chinese Chippendale Corner chair oak barrel staves water... And left to age their whiskey it in to secure the spigot and place jars... Send you an email to reset your password it on a barrel can be a unique gift for whiskey... 1 - get a barrel can loosen over time half an hour the hot water and swish the water for! For wood to decay as a result of environmental factors such as sunlight rain... Cooperage, youll probably never see new full-size barrels AVAILABLE now whiskey in specific...