Using Different Species of Oak

Treatment and handling of your distillate.

Moderator: Site Moderator

Post Reply
BW Redneck
Trainee
Posts: 775
Joined: Sun Dec 10, 2006 11:57 am
Location: 1000 acre farm, Ohio

Using Different Species of Oak

Post by BW Redneck »

As it appears in this forum, everybody prefers to use regular white oak (Quercus alba) over any others for toasting to age in bottles. Has anybody tried to use other species such as swamp white oak (Quercus bicolor) or pin oak (Quercus palustrius)? I recently came across a fallen swamp white oak, and I'd rather not strip finish off of furniture for a few shavings.

Surprisingly, we have little Q. alba in this region. Ash, locust, hickory, elm, walnut, and many varieties of maple are predominate in this region. Occasionally, I find a few red oak around here.

Does Q. bicolor produce comparable results? Should I go ahead and see what happens with Q. bicolor or not? I'd like to see a few thoughts on this.
"If you can't dazzle them with brilliance... baffle them with bullshit."
"Don't steal. The government hates competition."
"Believe none of what you hear, and only half of what you see"

20lt small pot still, working on keg
Aidas
Rumrunner
Posts: 577
Joined: Mon Feb 06, 2006 3:07 am
Location: Lithuania

Post by Aidas »

It is used for making whiskey barrels -- so use it.

Aidas
BW Redneck
Trainee
Posts: 775
Joined: Sun Dec 10, 2006 11:57 am
Location: 1000 acre farm, Ohio

Post by BW Redneck »

Thanks, I'll try Q. bicolor and see what happens then. Just wanted to know if others had tried it before. :)
"If you can't dazzle them with brilliance... baffle them with bullshit."
"Don't steal. The government hates competition."
"Believe none of what you hear, and only half of what you see"

20lt small pot still, working on keg
drunk2much
Bootlegger
Posts: 122
Joined: Mon Jul 03, 2006 8:40 pm
Location: Texas

Post by drunk2much »

I have used live oak with a combination of white oak It turned out alright
when is never enough?
Uncle Remus
Trainee
Posts: 787
Joined: Tue May 03, 2005 8:38 am
Location: great white north

Post by Uncle Remus »

Red oak is good too. I use it cuz it is readily available. From what I understand about barrels is they are made with white oak because white oak will seal up. Apparently red oak doesn't have the structure to make a good barrel.
Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach a man to fish and he will sit in a boat all day and drink beer.
pintoshine
Distiller
Posts: 1132
Joined: Sun Aug 20, 2006 1:30 pm

Post by pintoshine »

http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3443
This topic has a lot about other woods. I added a lot to it. I have tried many different kinds of wood over the years.
American white oak is a great flavor.
Post Reply