demijohn versus preserving jars for spirit storage

[gremlin]

Hi,

I have noticed that everyone I know in these circles keeps their spirits, liqueurs etc in 5 litre demijohns. Whilst this is practical for spirits only I find them very inconvenient when you want to handle oak chips or fruit pieces for liqueur making. I now use 5 litre preserving jars nearly exclusively. They are easy to clean inside ( you can actually get your hands inside) and anything like oak chips or fruit is just as easy to get in and to empty out.
Good quality Italian made 5 litre jars are only a little more than demijohns and the spirits do not come into contact with the rubber seal, which is of the highest food standard quality.

[Brigand]

Where are you sourcing the jars?

Cheers

[gremlin]

I mail order from kitchenwaredirect.com.au , they send any order over $ 100 for free. These Bormioli Rocco Fido preserving jars are much better than the cheap imported crap from PRC; they will last a life time, unless you drop them :) And at 14.95 for a 5 litre jar they are pretty close to the price of a 5 litre demijohn

[cdbrown]

My wife ordered a few of those jars for preserving lemons and other items and currently waiting for them to arrive. When I saw the price I thought they were expensive but didn't consider comparing them with a 5L demijohn which I was considering buying.

How do the jars go when pouring out into a bottle?

Do they have a rubber seal? Have you wrapped the seal in PTFE tape to make it "spirit safe"?

[gremlin]

hi,

yes, decanting from a jar is not as easy as from a bottle, but either way I have to use a large stainless steel funnel, so I do manage.
As to the rubber seals, I would rather buy the Italian tested foodstuff quality than any rubber or plastic made in PRC or other third world countries. The rubber seals are not in constant contact with the alcohol and normally the spirits I store in these jars are at approx. 40% Vol.
My grandpa used to store fruit in rum in such jars and lived to the ripe age of 96 years :)
Seriously, I have had cancer and I have discussed these issues with my surgeon. His opinion is that I will long be dead for a multitude of other reasons, before this will become a problem for me. The dangers from plastics are hundredfold greater when people microwave food in plastic containers or keep filling up their one way plastic water bottles.
Let's be honest, some people worry about a few plastic molecules entering their body, whilst they are literally drinking themselves to death.

[kiwikeg]

Great Idea Gremlin, :handgestures-thumbupleft: look here for local supplier kiwis http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing ... =486573780

[Linno]

gday

yeah i agree, i have started using jars as the staves and chunks i use dont fit in the top of the demis'.

[grehund]

I too use the Fido brand jars for doing any & all maceration, etc. For pure spirits (feints, etc) I still use a few demi's.

[R-sole]

I use the $5 ones from the junk shop. I throw away the rubber seals.