Re-using staves

Discuss everything about oaking and aging here

Re-using staves

Postby Lowie » Fri Apr 12, 2019 8:14 pm

Sitting here in my shed watching my bubbler make whiskey, the mind wanders...Any reason why we don't reuse staves? After all, bourbon/whiskey barrels get reused. I've got far too many to use up in my weber and barbie. Interested to hear others thoughts :think:
Lowie
 
Posts: 712
Joined: Sun May 24, 2015 1:32 pm
Location: Crow eater
equipment: 4", 4 plate "Frankenfurter" copper bubbler and blockhead on a 50L 3000W electric boiler, 10000W controller - don't even know why I need that much, all grain HERMS system through 18G HLT keg and 50L mash tun.

Re: Re-using staves

Postby Doubleuj » Fri Apr 12, 2019 8:24 pm

I reuse my oak many times over...
Doubleuj
Lifetime Member
 
Posts: 3630
Joined: Fri Jan 16, 2015 7:15 pm
Location: rockhampton qld
equipment: 4" stainless glasser

Re: Re-using staves

Postby Lowie » Fri Apr 12, 2019 8:33 pm

Do you notice any flavour profile changes DJ? or is it same, same? Do you need to leave them to oak longer as they get older? so many questions....
Lowie
 
Posts: 712
Joined: Sun May 24, 2015 1:32 pm
Location: Crow eater
equipment: 4", 4 plate "Frankenfurter" copper bubbler and blockhead on a 50L 3000W electric boiler, 10000W controller - don't even know why I need that much, all grain HERMS system through 18G HLT keg and 50L mash tun.

Re: Re-using staves

Postby Teddysad » Fri Apr 12, 2019 9:18 pm

I find a bit of re-char on a bbq hotplate inside aluminium foil brings them back to life very nicely
Teddysad
 
Posts: 443
Joined: Tue Mar 06, 2012 2:10 pm
Location: Canterbury NZ
equipment: FSD 4"SSG with packed column 50l Boiler keg. Alex 25 for smaller scale runs

Re: Re-using staves

Postby Cadmoon » Fri Apr 12, 2019 9:20 pm

Bourbon barrels aren't reused for bourbon, they have to use virgin barrels. The flavour apparently drops off the more you use it but I have no personal experience.
Cadmoon
 
Posts: 45
Joined: Tue Mar 19, 2019 6:08 pm
Location: Queensland
equipment: Home made pelican with shotgun condenser on a t500 with alembic dome.

Re: Re-using staves

Postby Sam. » Fri Apr 12, 2019 11:40 pm

A large percentage of the scotch whisky industry use second hand bourbon barrels and they will use them 3 or 4 times
Sam.
Lifetime Member
 
Posts: 10405
Joined: Sun Jul 17, 2011 7:19 pm
Location: South Oz Straya
equipment: Original FSD 5 plate 4 inch modular bubbler SSG with hand crafted plates and parrot by Mac.
18 Gal boiler.
2 x 2400W elements and power controller.
.

Re: Re-using staves

Postby wynnum1 » Sat Apr 13, 2019 5:53 am

Scotch whisky how long does it stay in the barrel to age that is going to be a problem where bourbon uses fresh barrels and then on sell .
What happens to a 24 year old Scotch whisky barrel.
wynnum1
 
Posts: 1494
Joined: Tue Jul 26, 2011 1:18 pm

Re: Re-using staves

Postby Lowie » Sat Apr 13, 2019 11:39 am

Teddysad wrote:I find a bit of re-char on a bbq hotplate inside aluminium foil brings them back to life very nicely


Excellent. thanks, I'll give that a go next next time the snags are on!
Lowie
 
Posts: 712
Joined: Sun May 24, 2015 1:32 pm
Location: Crow eater
equipment: 4", 4 plate "Frankenfurter" copper bubbler and blockhead on a 50L 3000W electric boiler, 10000W controller - don't even know why I need that much, all grain HERMS system through 18G HLT keg and 50L mash tun.

Re: Re-using staves

Postby bluc » Sat Apr 13, 2019 3:02 pm

wynnum1 wrote:Scotch whisky how long does it stay in the barrel to age that is going to be a problem where bourbon uses fresh barrels and then on sell .
What happens to a 24 year old Scotch whisky barrel.

Still ages awesome but you don't get the colour and flavour. My 10l rum barrel barely colours now but it ages snd smoothes the spirit awesomely :handgestures-thumbupleft: I put oak staves in the spirit in glass colour it up and pull the sugars from the wood then put it in barrel to age..
Last edited by bluc on Sat Apr 13, 2019 3:02 pm, edited 1 time in total.
bluc
Site Donor
 
Posts: 8967
Joined: Tue Apr 14, 2015 5:47 pm
Location: sunshine coast
equipment: 2" pot with 2" shotty 400mm long 5x 1/2" on a t500 boiler.
50l keg boiler 4" still mount 4" sight glass 1" drain..
4 plate 4" bubbler, 600mm packed section

Re: Re-using staves

Postby Triangle » Sun Apr 14, 2019 11:36 pm

I reuse good oak staves by planeing and then cutting on drop saw to the surface area I want/fits in opening of demijohn. Then in oven as I use it for red so no char.

I work off 60-90cm2/litre of fluid to achieve the same surface area of wine barrel (I err on the side of caution and use lower figure as there's no coming back from over oaking).
Triangle
 
Posts: 149
Joined: Fri Nov 07, 2014 10:03 pm
Location: Adelaide
equipment: To be anounced!

Re: Re-using staves

Postby wynnum1 » Mon Apr 15, 2019 9:37 am

If you over oak “dilution is the solution to pollution.” would seem to apply try blending to dilute or use in a mixture like one of the milk drink concoctions.
wynnum1
 
Posts: 1494
Joined: Tue Jul 26, 2011 1:18 pm

Re: Re-using staves

Postby Gasman » Fri Jan 08, 2021 7:32 am

My second post guys,Hi from Cairns.I'm hoping I've done the right thing here.I had an old barrell from Sydney that I no longer wanted.It doesn't suit my place as I now live on the beach and I was going to take it to Vinnies about 2 weeks ago.Anyway last week having found this forum I decided to upgrade my old essencia still ( lol yes I know ) to a FSD ( hopefully arrives today ) and I wanded across Bourbon Dominoes which I had never heard about ....anyway a light bulb moment and I got the circular saw out..

So the barrell was lacquered and I dead set ripped the shit out of the varnish with a 40 grit flapper disc back to bare beautiful wood.The inside is charred.I painstakingly chiselled the staves to split them.Not sure to toast them or char the outside? I haven't yet got any spirit to put them in.I am only interested in making Bourbon.I bought a second hand Corner keg and can put them in as is ? Although have no idea how many to use ?
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Gasman
 
Posts: 27
Joined: Sat Jan 02, 2021 1:42 pm
Location: Cairns
equipment: 5star boka both reflux and pot

Re: Re-using staves

Postby bluc » Fri Jan 08, 2021 12:49 pm

Char with propane torch.
Toast in oven or bbq low and slow, watch like a hawk.
Be anal bout removing the varnish small flake will ruin lot booze..
bluc
Site Donor
 
Posts: 8967
Joined: Tue Apr 14, 2015 5:47 pm
Location: sunshine coast
equipment: 2" pot with 2" shotty 400mm long 5x 1/2" on a t500 boiler.
50l keg boiler 4" still mount 4" sight glass 1" drain..
4 plate 4" bubbler, 600mm packed section

Re: Re-using staves

Postby Yonder » Fri Jan 08, 2021 4:18 pm

Gasman, I reuse my oak several times. I first cut away the old char on a bandsaw then wrap in foil, toasting at 375F for 2 to 2.5 hours. Gives a nice dark brown finish with great vanilla nose. Some of the staves I’ll alligator char with a torch to give more depth of color to my product. Enjoy.
Yonder
 
Posts: 97
Joined: Thu Apr 19, 2018 3:38 pm
Location: Texas, of course
equipment: 10 gal copper pot w/doubler and a lot of enthusiasm

Re: Re-using staves

Postby Gasman » Fri Jan 08, 2021 5:39 pm

Thanks gents
Yes I hear what you say about the varnish.I was pretty ruthless.
Thanks for the toast / char tips.I feel lucky to be in a position to experiment a tad as I've got a big pile of staves to play with.
I got my still today from FSD,complete with a chuppachup.I will build on the unit over time but owe a huge thanks to the contribution you guys make
With thanks..
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Gasman
 
Posts: 27
Joined: Sat Jan 02, 2021 1:42 pm
Location: Cairns
equipment: 5star boka both reflux and pot

Re: Re-using staves

Postby bluc » Fri Jan 08, 2021 5:44 pm

Looks awesome couple bits and you will also have a pot :handgestures-thumbupleft:
bluc
Site Donor
 
Posts: 8967
Joined: Tue Apr 14, 2015 5:47 pm
Location: sunshine coast
equipment: 2" pot with 2" shotty 400mm long 5x 1/2" on a t500 boiler.
50l keg boiler 4" still mount 4" sight glass 1" drain..
4 plate 4" bubbler, 600mm packed section

Re: Re-using staves

Postby Andrew » Fri Jan 08, 2021 5:53 pm

Looking good sitting out in the driveway like that :laughing-rolling:
Oh and Bluc, he has the bits to make it a pot.
Gasman , the controller and stuff is on its way :handgestures-thumbupleft:
Cheers
Andrew
 
Posts: 393
Images: 0
Joined: Sat Jun 11, 2011 12:58 pm
Location: S.E.Brisbane
equipment: Anything I choose From The 5 Star Range

Re: Re-using staves

Postby bluc » Fri Jan 08, 2021 9:51 pm

Sweet
bluc
Site Donor
 
Posts: 8967
Joined: Tue Apr 14, 2015 5:47 pm
Location: sunshine coast
equipment: 2" pot with 2" shotty 400mm long 5x 1/2" on a t500 boiler.
50l keg boiler 4" still mount 4" sight glass 1" drain..
4 plate 4" bubbler, 600mm packed section

Re: Re-using staves

Postby Yonder » Mon Jan 11, 2021 4:11 pm

Beauty!
Yonder
 
Posts: 97
Joined: Thu Apr 19, 2018 3:38 pm
Location: Texas, of course
equipment: 10 gal copper pot w/doubler and a lot of enthusiasm

Re: Re-using staves

Postby Bourbon_Knight » Sun Nov 14, 2021 2:48 pm

Hi all
Wondering if anyone has had experience with reused staves/dominoes imparting any flavour from previous batches?

My first batches had a heavy floral taste to the product.
Since then I've upgraded equipment, acid clean and rinse copper scrubbers after each spirit run, changed recipe (to UJSSM) and have improved my distilling processes, yet I'm still noticing an almost floral undertone.
Thought perhaps it might be from reusing staves that were used in some of those earlier batches.

cheers
Bourbon_Knight
 
Posts: 10
Joined: Thu Jan 16, 2020 8:04 pm
equipment: BrewZilla / AlcoEngine Pot 'Chester' (Chester Copperpot - now archived)
'Excalibur' - 5Star 4" Modular on modded keg


Return to Oaking and Aging



Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 23 guests

x