Aussiedistiller, Home Distilling, Moonshine, Home Brew

bluc wrote:Hey tas have you ever come across spanish oak in your travels?

I haven't yet, but I think I know where I may be able to source some. Any Oloroso barrel will probably be Spanish :think:

Keister wrote:... (not really sure if younger wood imparts the same stuff)

I believe all wood used for barrels and staves/dominos is matured wood that has sat for around a year in the environment... Thats what I read anyway.

So I'd hesitate a guess and say young wood would be too 'wet' with sap and therefore not suitable... but I was wrong this morning, and chances are, that I am again this arvo!

Let me just ask my wife ... :violence-smack:

IIRC when making barrels they only use oak from trees 1m in diameter, not sure if this is a flavour thing or a sustainability thing.

Wikipedia
Oak trees are typically between 80–120 years old prior to harvesting with the ideal conditions being a cool climate in a dense forest region that gives the trees opportunity to mature slowly and develop a tighter grain. Typically one tree can provide enough wood for two 225-litre (59 US gal) barrels. The trees are typically harvested in the winter months when there is less sap in the trunk

Progress update, the Brigalow aged UJ is coming along very nicely, wish I had put in Rum. I've still got 1 domino left that will go into my next Rum, big burst of fruity/floral notes up front, cant taste the corn anymore, mellows out towards the end. I'm thinking this will be wicked for aging Rum, going to get my mate to send some more down. :handgestures-thumbupleft: The Mrs just had a sniff, is it Rum? second comment was "Smells like Fruit Cake"

TasSpirits wrote:Progress update, the Brigalow aged UJ is coming along very nicely, wish I had put in Rum. I've still got 1 domino left that will go into my next Rum, big burst of fruity/floral notes up front, cant taste the corn anymore, mellows out towards the end. I'm thinking this will be wicked for aging Rum, going to get my mate to send some more down. :handgestures-thumbupleft: The Mrs just had a sniff, is it Rum? second comment was "Smells like Fruit Cake"

Tas, is this openly available or a secret stash somewhere?

EziTasting wrote:

TasSpirits wrote:Progress update, the Brigalow aged UJ is coming along very nicely, wish I had put in Rum. I've still got 1 domino left that will go into my next Rum, big burst of fruity/floral notes up front, cant taste the corn anymore, mellows out towards the end. I'm thinking this will be wicked for aging Rum, going to get my mate to send some more down. :handgestures-thumbupleft: The Mrs just had a sniff, is it Rum? second comment was "Smells like Fruit Cake"

Tas, is this openly available or a secret stash somewhere?

Apparently the trees are protected now, secret stash is going to be in the post tomorrow :teasing-tease: Once it arrives I may be persuaded to part with some :think: Ive got some gen 8 rum to run soon so Ill put a couple of litres on the brigalow sticks and see what happens. :handgestures-thumbupleft:

Just my luck!

My old man is into wood turning, so I've put him on to it... see what comes of it.

Have seen some available thru firewood vendors online... might need to go down that path if my family connection is unsuccessful...

What is brigalow?

bluc wrote:What is brigalow?

Acacia harpophylla, commonly known as brigalow,

brigalow spearwood or orkor is an endemic tree of Australia. It is found in central and coastal Queensland to northern New South Wales.
Scientific name: Acacia harpophylla

Right ok then, but what is so special about it?
Is it that super dense hardwood that you can use as a hammer or is that something else?

seems its almost easier to purchase live growing trees (younglings) than aged wood!

but thats somewhat self-defeating ... :angry-banghead:

scythe wrote:Right ok then, but what is so special about it?
Is it that super dense hardwood that you can use as a hammer or is that something else?

Seems to be denser than Oak, only have a couple of dominos to play with until the box shows up, my mate has been making sculptures and furniture out of it. :think: