Aussiedistiller, Home Distilling, Moonshine, Home Brew

I’m thinking of getting some barrels, all the barrels I’ve seen seem too lacquered on the outside, will this affect the aging process

Generally not, it'll still breathe. The lacquer doesn't really seal it.

That said, from the bigger sellers I've had better results with ex-something barrels - ie ex wine, ex bourbon ex-etc.

I do also age with dominoes which if you're just getting started, its a better way to get an idea of what to expect flavour wise - even if a barrel will age better overall (asterisk, of course).

Make sure they come with stainless taps and not chrome plated or brass

The Stig wrote:Make sure they come with stainless taps and not chrome plated or brass

I have had 5 barrels custom made by AP Johns, they are a very expensive Cooperage but extremally top quality. All of there barrels are made from new oak. i was completely surprised when they arrived with brass taps.

Spending a touch over $1000.00 on each barrel and being such an exclusive coopage i assumed that the taps would have been stainless steel. I know its lead free brass but still.... :-q

www.apjohn.com.au

they have the contract to cast Penfolds grange hermitage.

I forgot to mention my barrels were larger than the barrels in this thread.

3 x 100L & 2 x 70L

Most places call them wine barrels for a reason. The proof is fine and safe with them - up to around 20%.

Given they were custom, did you specify the intent to age spirits? If so then yeah, they did you a disservice.

Wow Stillsmith you have some serious amounts aging. :handgestures-thumbupleft:

Party at your house in a few years time hey :laughing-rolling:

TheRealMrMessy wrote:Most places call them wine barrels for a reason. The proof is fine and safe with them - up to around 20%.

Given they were custom, did you specify the intent to age spirits? If so then yeah, they did you a disservice.

Yes it was my fault as i did not specify i wanted to have stainless steel taps. it was something i just forgot to ask as i assumed they would automatically come in stainless considering they were custom made for spirits aging at 65%.

there aftermarket service to customers is fantastic, they helped me change flavour profiles using there Oak fans that are hung on a stainless steel lanyard below the shive. (bung)

Wellsy wrote:Wow Stillsmith you have some serious amounts aging. :handgestures-thumbupleft:

Party at your house in a few years time hey :laughing-rolling:

Some are ready to go know, i have a 100L of corn, wheat & malt Barley that has been aging for 8 years. i intend to remove the shive this week and see how much the Angels have drunk in 8 years. x_x

If it is in a custom oak barrell why the need to hang oak below the bung.
100 ltrs @8 years of age now that is the stuff of dreams

i got all of my barrels in medium Toast. the mini staves they sell is a way of introducing different Chars or different oak flavours.
i have 3 different Chars and 6 different Oaks. French, Appalachian, Hungarian & American.

i also use the differant mini staves to age in glass also. the Hungarian oak is lovely to age peach brandy.

I do the same, some of my barrels are getting on for 10th use. But after around the third they start getting some staves added to give some fresh oak just to restore a few of the notes.