Should I char the oak?

[Spar]

Was going to get some chunks of oak from barrel staves as they are quite cheap, and I was wondering if I should put these straight into the spirit for aging of if I should char them a bit first?

[Woodsy71]

Evening Spar,

Which spirit are you looking to oak?

[Spar]

Rum mate. I have my wash down and still a few weeks off from aging it but I'm just trying to get all my info together. Thanks

[Woodsy71]

Champ,

Im not sure which staves your talking about, but i use Medium Toast American Oak Dominoes for my rum i sourced from here http://www.suber-lefort.com.au/

Great stuff :handgestures-thumbupleft:

As i said not sure about the oak your looking at but will say, imo, a toasting will certainly help your product

[Spar]

I was actually looking at this. http://www.mistygully.com.au/oak-wine-b ... hunks-1kg/
I can't see the link you sent properly on my phone, but will check it out later. Are they reasonable priced?

[Sam.]

Spar it depends wether it's an American or French oak barrel as to the flavour it will impart, then it depends if you toast or char and how heavy you go.

A few variables there but for rum you would prob be best to for a heavy char of American :handgestures-thumbupleft:

Nothin wrong with using cut down staves from barrels but the professional made ones like above might be a bit better ;-)

[Yummyrum]

LOL Sam, no wonder you not so keen on Rum
I tried Charring some ..... :puke-huge: .Its just not Rum like ...Toast seems the better option ..although I have been trying straight American Oak in an effort to simulate Bundy ,also OK but not the traditional Rum flavour

There are a few posts around on how to Toast your own Oak in Barbies and Ovens..Just can't remember where :oops:

[Bushy]

Yummy !!!! Mate!
Correct me if I'm wrong, but you're goin for the Bundy feelin. Yeah?
Bundaberg does a fairly wide ranging cut on their runs. Lots of good tails and a heavy smattering of heads. The average west australian can pick the cuts pretty quick. But of course, then you need to drag a mangey dogs arse over the oak.

[whiskeyshiner]

Yummy !!!! Mate!
Correct me if I'm wrong, but you're goin for the Bundy feelin. Yeah?
Bundaberg does a fairly wide ranging cut on their runs. Lots of good tails and a heavy smattering of heads. The average west australian can pick the cuts pretty quick. But of course, then you need to drag a mangey dogs arse over the oak.

Very subtle bushy :laughing-rolling: :laughing-rolling: :laughing-rolling:

[crow]

yep will go along with sentiments but not charring oak for rum. Did it and don't really go on it, that smokey flavor just doesn't seem to belong there to my tastes (of course taste is subjective)

[Yummyrum]

Yummy !!!! Mate!
Correct me if I'm wrong, but you're goin for the Bundy feelin. Yeah?
Bundaberg does a fairly wide ranging cut on their runs. Lots of good tails and a heavy smattering of heads. The average west australian can pick the cuts pretty quick. But of course, then you need to drag a mangey dogs arse over the oak.

Bushy ,you are quite Correct , I am going for the Bundy Feeling (call it a personal challenge ATM ).....however It is not the only Rum I have ever drunk or like to drink...While I have now doubt that Bundy do add a lot of heads ,adding shit loads of heads Does not make a Rum that tastes anything like Bundy...and if Heads Burn is all people taste and smell in Bundy ,then that is sad because there is so much else going on .

BTW : The OP was asking whether to use Charred Oak in Rum ,I answered no...because IMO it doesn't contribute to Rum in a positive way .Thats Rum in general ...not just Bundy.

Hope that helps :hand: ......got some Mangey lookin dog up the road ...might borrow his arse. :laughing-rolling: ..seems the cane toad and rat shit didn't help

[MacStill]

BTW : The OP was asking whether to use Charred Oak in Rum ,I answered no...because IMO it doesn't contribute to Rum in a positive way .Thats Rum in general ...not just Bundy.

medium/heavy toast all the way for me too, so a big :text-+1: from me :handgestures-thumbupleft:

[SBB]

Ive tried charred in rum as well and didnt like the end result, I use one of two things now, either American oak Dominos, or my own home toasted American oak sticks, I usually toast them till they are a light chocolate brown right through.
Those oak chunks in the link above should make some nice sticks once toasted.

[Spar]

Hmmm just at the local brew shop and the bloke there told me that I'm not doing it right and American oak doesn't work with rum. If u want rum I have to use red gum chips!!! Wtf

[bayshine]

Hmmm just at the local brew shop and the bloke there told me that I'm not doing it right and American oak doesn't work with rum. If u want rum I have to use red gum chips!!! Wtf

Only if you want to poison yourself :-|
I'm pretty sure they make charcoal out of red gum to filter with!

[Urrazeb]

Yep spot on bayshine :handgestures-thumbupleft: the redgum is for charcoal filtering only. No gumtree should ever be used for ageing :handgestures-thumbdown:

[Spar]

I give him the old nod and the "she'll be right". Guy seems to know jack shit about it for someone who owns a shop...

[MacStill]

Hmmm just at the local brew shop and the bloke there told me that I'm not doing it right and American oak doesn't work with rum. If u want rum I have to use red gum chips!!! Wtf

Geez that's some top advice right there, what a dickhead :violence-stickwhack:

[baysidebogan]

I give him the old nod and the "she'll be right". Guy seems to know jack shit about it for someone who owns a shop...

Just cos he runs the shop does not mean he knows anything. He just wants to make a profit, he does not care about you or your health

[Yummyrum]

Years ago I mentioned Distiller forum to my HBS owner...I was shot down and told its all miss-truths and not to believe anything I read on the internet.