untoasted barrel issue

[mark-gabb]

hi all

so ive bought myself a new barrel last month as my 5L wasn't quite big enough for what I was drinking....
perfect barrel, ($185) made by a guy in Victoria who makes them one by one in his shed....
so I got myself a shinny new 10L oak....only problem was I didn't realize it was RAW

im looking to put bourbons in it, but the neutral I have in it now has taken on a real green raw taste....


anyone know what some good options are to try get it usable?
should I send it to the guy I got the first from and ask him to char it?

[Andy]

just chuck in a match :teasing-tease:

the guy you got it from would be able to char it. If you didn't want to do that you could heavy char some staves and slip them in, but then you have to deal with getting them out and the risk of over oaking.

you should be able to get some nice bourbon from a toasted barrel (which im assuming the barrel is at least toasted)

[mark-gabb]

no the new 10L is completely RAW

it was one of those Dan murphys jobs....got it cheap so I cant take it back was only $75....carowa or something like that....

was considered damaged stock because it leaked......I just put hot water in it for a week and bingo...sealed cask....

im guessing it has to at least be toasted to be used for bourbon?

if so I guess im sending an email to the guy who did my first barrel

I was wondering about putting in a match like you said.....

50% of people seem to say go for it the 40% alch should be perfect to help toast it

other people say you could blow up the barrel....

[Andy]

haha match was a joke!! don't put a match in it lol

the guy who did your first barrel will probably not want to touch this one, as it will likely be cheaply made and difficulty to put back together.

my only idea is that you could try bore drilling our the fill port and then using a butane torch to char where you can, and then make a big wooden stopper for the hole.

[620rossco]

just chuck in a match

This will do it but resist the temptation. The results are really scary.
Put in a couple of staves to help it a little.... or switch to brandy.

[Atreu]

I'm probably not seeing the whole picture, but could you put it in the oven for a couple of hours? (After soaking it in water again)

[Doubleuj]

I'm probably not seeing the whole picture, but could you put it in the oven for a couple of hours? (After soaking it in water again)

:handgestures-thumbupleft:
I'd give that a go or hire one of those fan forced blow torch thingys from Bunnings ?

[bluc]

Gotta toast the inside... first ask bloke that made it if he can dissasemble and toast it. I agree with putting a big hole in top maybe 150mm might pay to search for cork stopper first then cut hole to suit. I would leave it couple days outside in the shade after drilling before putting any flame to it. I would also test it with a flame on a long stick before using a blow torch to toast it ... I have heard nasty story of people dying while welding petrol tanks even while they are full of water. Alcohol is very explosive remember that before you do anything. Be safe cheers :handgestures-thumbupleft:

[1 2many]

Has it got varnish on the outside ?

Raw is what you want on the outside of the barrel so that it can breathe, if varnished you will need to open the barrel often to let it air out.

[mark-gabb]

Gotta toast the inside... first ask bloke that made it if he can dissasemble and toast it. I agree with putting a big hole in top maybe 150mm might pay to search for cork stopper first then cut hole to suit. I would leave it couple days outside in the shade after drilling before putting any flame to it. I would also test it with a flame on a long stick before using a blow torch to toast it ... I have heard nasty story of people dying while welding petrol tanks even while they are full of water. Alcohol is very explosive remember that before you do anything. Be safe cheers :handgestures-thumbupleft:

sounds like a plan

cant take it back as this bigger one is a dan murphys job....im sure they wont retoast it for me....


will start looking for a cork over the next few days...sounds like a plan to me....


ive also just emailed the guy who made my small barrel to ask if he is able to do this sort of work

[bluess57]

Post up a picture of the barrel.
Why not have a go at toasting it yourself?
Knock the hoops off one end, remove the head piece, toast, reassemble

[mark-gabb]

ive never thought about doing it myself.......

here is both of the barrels

20150901_214031.jpg

20150901_214041.jpg

and this is a closer look at the big barrel

20150901_214049.jpg

im aware both are lacquered......
unfortunately not much I can do about it anymore as I didn't know about it before I bougth the little one,
and the larger one was given to me so that's how it ended up.....

[bluess57]

I repaired the head of one of my barrels. Not a pretty end result, but functional I.e doesn't leak. If your barrel is a show piece and you don't want it scratched up, then leave it. If your not too worried, empty barrel, pencil line where the 2 hoops are at the tap end, big screwdriver and hammer, tap the hoops off. The head will come out.
Get a big clean tin which fits inside, punch lots of holes into it. Make a fire in tin, put in barrel. Or you could use a propane torch to char the inside.
Reassemble. There is a thread on forum with my barrel repair.

[mark-gabb]

I will definitely look that up....might do it when wife is not home for a day or so....
Five me time to check it out and do it without anyone seeing my screw ups