French oak vs American oak

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French oak vs American oak

Postby Plumby » Mon Nov 13, 2017 4:55 pm

Hi everybody,
My question is why does French oak colour quicker than American oak. After making my cuts on my ujsm spirit run yesterday I put 4.5 litres at 65% on 40 grams of French oak and 2 litres on 20 grams of American oak, the French has taken colour on already but the American is still white. Why is this, has anybody experienced the same thing?
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Re: French oak vs American oak

Postby bluc » Mon Nov 13, 2017 5:00 pm

Yes french always colours quicker for me to. Also gives it an awesome red colour..
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Re: French oak vs American oak

Postby Plumby » Mon Nov 13, 2017 5:04 pm

I was blown away when I checked this arvo, beautiful dark red/amber colour on the French, checked the American still crystal clear.
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Re: French oak vs American oak

Postby bluc » Mon Nov 13, 2017 5:05 pm

I found I like a combination of the two rather than one or the other..
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Re: French oak vs American oak

Postby Plumby » Mon Nov 13, 2017 5:11 pm

I had planed to do both then do a bit of blending, try to find something nice. I was given the American oak as a gift and its heavy toast and char, being so dark I thought it would colour fast but it took ages last time I used it
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Re: French oak vs American oak

Postby bluc » Mon Nov 13, 2017 5:34 pm

My rum I age in american oak barrel then put it in a jar with french oak for extra colour and flavour. I find french gives it something american alone lacks. Will grab a french barrel when I can :D
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Re: French oak vs American oak

Postby Plumby » Mon Nov 13, 2017 5:52 pm

Screenshot_20171113-175058.png

Not the best picture, you get the idea though.
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Re: French oak vs American oak

Postby bluc » Mon Nov 13, 2017 7:29 pm

Yep thats the red colour looks delicious :mrgreen:
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Re: French oak vs American oak

Postby Plumby » Mon Nov 13, 2017 8:21 pm

bluc wrote:Yep thats the red colour looks delicious :mrgreen:

Smells good already too :D
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Re: French oak vs American oak

Postby Stonemaker1 » Tue Nov 14, 2017 4:03 pm

Plumby wrote:I had planed to do both then do a bit of blending, try to find something nice. I was given the American oak as a gift and its heavy toast and char, being so dark I thought it would colour fast but it took ages last time I used it


I thought the same thing about alligator charr and thought it would colour the quickest but in fact it’s the complete opposite.
I think the grain in French oak is more loose and not as tight as American oak that’s why it colours more quickly. :handgestures-thumbupleft:
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Re: French oak vs American oak

Postby Pauder » Mon Jan 15, 2018 10:33 pm

American oak medium toast seems to work well
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Re: French oak vs American oak

Postby JayTee » Mon Apr 09, 2018 1:41 am

Hi - A newbie question I'm afraid. I'm about to have my first go at french oaking a batch of rum. I wasn't sure if you guys tend to use the staves "as is" or do you specifically "char" them over a gas flame first? Thanks in advance :smile:
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Re: French oak vs American oak

Postby JayTee » Mon Apr 09, 2018 5:17 am

Just got the answer no for rum - so that's good :handgestures-thumbupleft:
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Re: French oak vs American oak

Postby woodduck » Mon Apr 09, 2018 7:13 am

Make sure their toasted though. I'm not sure raw oak would be real nice. :handgestures-thumbupleft:
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