Kegland 10litre barrels

[Multipleg]

Has anyone used one of the Kegland 10l barrels for aging?

I’ve always aged in demijohns with dominoes or sticks of oak. I’ve been wary of small barrels. I’m aiming to put a batch down long term in a badmotivator but thought I’d try a 10l barrel in a semi-solera style — pull out 500 ml for a bottle and replenish with newer 500 ml etc ad infinitum. I don’t think it would over-oa and would kind of average out over time.

Any thoughts?

[howard]

Has anyone used one of the Kegland 10l barrels for aging?

I’ve always aged in demijohns with dominoes or sticks of oak. I’ve been wary of small barrels. I’m aiming to put a batch down long term in a badmotivator but thought I’d try a 10l barrel in a semi-solera style — pull out 500 ml for a bottle and replenish with newer 500 ml etc ad infinitum. I don’t think it would over-oa and would kind of average out over time.

Any thoughts?

they're not bad, i have about 3 x 5L in my collection.
no problems with sealing.
i replaced the tap or just used the SS tap provided without the plastic seal(i can't remember which lol)
the plastic top bung section is threaded into the wood.
i removed this and drilled the thread out, then used cut down corks from HID's prosecco bottles.
these corks worked ok, but were difficult to remove for tasting, without destroying the cork and the inevitable cork bits into the barrel.
i got a couple of food grade silicon bungs for now (rated as 'good' for use with ethanol)
i should look at getting EPDM bungs or an oak dowel i can taper.<slaps back of hand>
oh, and they also age whiskey & rum very nicely IMHO

[Multipleg]

Thanks

[hjubm2]

You say it shouldn't over oak but for reference, I made a brandy for a guy I worked with, after 6 months in a 30L barrel it was already over oaked...

Compared to that, the brandy I put in one of the badmo style barrels I made has been aging for close to 2 years & showing no signs of over oaking.

If you do the solera with the barrels keep an eye on it, especially when they are new. You might have to take out more spirits sooner then you expect...

[GrumbleStill]

I’ve got a couple of them. IMHO - they are OK, but not great.

On the plus side, they are pretty cheap, give reasonable oak flavour, do a decent job of smoothing out a whiskey given a year or so and 100% look the goods sitting on the bar.

On the down side, the angels get more than their fair share. Then there is the fact that they are lacquered, so will never get the same interaction with air as a “real” barrel.

I’ve given the 1st one I got a couple of fills, and am now using it as a solera. The youngest spirit in it is coming up to a year old now, so I’ll take my 1st bottle soon. There’s not a lot of flavour left after a couple of fills, so my plan is to only top it up with stock that has been sitting on dominoes for a year or two.

Have fun & stay safe.

[Multipleg]

You say it shouldn't over oak but for reference, I made a brandy for a guy I worked with, after 6 months in a 30L barrel it was already over oaked...

Within about 3 months I expect about 10 litres to have come out and a fresh 10 litre to have gone in. :D

[bluc]

Yea may have put well over 100l through a 10l barrel easy to over do it at first..

[AJH1]

I was wondering about using these barrels, I have a new 5lt one. I was thinking could put it in for a month or two, tasting to see how it goes. Once happy bottle it and then fill the barrel with water until I’m ready to use it again, they should stop the barrel splitting, any downfalls with that?

[howard]

I was wondering about using these barrels, I have a new 5lt one. I was thinking could put it in for a month or two, tasting to see how it goes. Once happy bottle it and then fill the barrel with water until I’m ready to use it again, they should stop the barrel splitting, any downfalls with that?

1 or 2 months is a bit short to get great results imho
i also make more product and pre-oak it in glass jars ready to re-fill.

i don't know if barrels actually split when empty, they will dry out and need to be soaked to expand them.
what is the opinion on keeping water in a barrel?
personally i think i would rather let the barrel dry out, but that never happens for me :smile:

[Professor Green]

Make more booze before you empty the barrel and refill it straight away.

[Wellsy]

Every soaking in a barrel takes out flavour, I am with the professor on rather leaving it empty. Better that than than tipping lovely oak flavoured water down the sink when you re ready to use it again.

[AJH1]

Every soaking in a barrel takes out flavour, I am with the professor on rather leaving it empty. Better that than than tipping lovely oak flavoured water down the sink when you re ready to use it again.

Sounds like might have to keep it full, that would be a shame!

[harold01]

you don't have to keep it full, a small barrel like that if it has been empty for a while you just sit on the sink and fill it with boiling water, it will stop leaking pretty quickly then drain it and fill it with the good stuff, rum preferably

[slideshowbob]

I keep seeing ads for Adelaide Wine Barrels. (Thanks cookie monster).

Has anyone tried these? Wonder if there's much improvement over the cheaper Kegland barrels.

https://adelaidewinebarrels.com.au/prod ... edium-char

My brain fart was to fill it up with sherry *cough* Apera if it needed to be empty.

[harold01]

Adelaide wine barrels are OK
I have bought 50L and 100L barrels from them

[howard]

I keep seeing ads for Adelaide Wine Barrels. (Thanks cookie monster).

Has anyone tried these? Wonder if there's much improvement over the cheaper Kegland barrels.

https://adelaidewinebarrels.com.au/prod ... edium-char

My brain fart was to fill it up with sherry *cough* Apera if it needed to be empty.

i notice that Beerco usually have a range of used barrels.
but you have to be quick, they are are often sold out.
i've not bought any, the shipping to WA would be prohibitive.

[Multipleg]

This has been working really well for me. Barrel at 62%. Take out 450ml at a time to make a 700ml bottle. Put 450ml back in the barrel from a 5 litre demijohn with a couple of bits of oak in it.

If I ever get a spare 6 litres I'll put it away in a badmotivator for a couple of years.

[WoodyD40]

Good to know its working well for you.

I just bought 2 x 10 litre Kegland barrels just before Christmas. I intend to start with the hot water treatment this weekend, to get them ready to fill with my Gladfields Heavy Smoked Peat Whiskey. I just hope i have enough whiskey left in demijohns to keep topping those barrels up.

[slideshowbob]

Good to know its working well for you.

I just bought 2 x 10 litre Kegland barrels just before Christmas. I intend to start with the hot water treatment this weekend, to get them ready to fill with my Gladfields Heavy Smoked Peat Whiskey. I just hope i have enough whiskey left in demijohns to keep topping those barrels up.

Be interested to hear how you go with the hot water, if they seal up nicely. Oak barrels might just be the next thing my mouse finger slips on and melts the credit card just a little more.

I tried my first taste of my WBAB 'whisky', which to be fair has only been in a glass demijohn on oak chips since 16 Jan, and it was very raw with a huge weetbix flavour! As young and raw as it is, it tastes like it has potential though.

[WoodyD40]

filled them both with hot water on weekend.

First one sealed up perfectly.
Second one has a small leak at the front.
I'll empty and refill with hot water again tonight.