Storage of spirits in Mason jars

[Porcupino]

I did some searching and found a lot of discussion on this topic, but did not see this as a solution. If I missed it, I am sorry - please delete the thread.

After much research, I store my low wines in corney kegs. But plan on storing higher proof spirits smaller, Mason jars, to run tests on oaking, infusions, etc. I know a lot of folks have found the lining on the insert of the jar lid is NOT HD APPROVED.

Some have gone to USplatics website and bought the ptfe discs - these didn't quite fit my widemouth jars - and 12-15 bucks for shippin just didn't rub me right.

So what I found was sheets of ptfe (.02mm thicker than the USplatic discs) that I can cut to squares and cover the Mason jar disc. Took about 5 - 10 minutes to cut a sheet. One sheet gave me 18-20 squares depending on how straight I was cuttin. 5 sheets cost 7 bucks.

Search PTFE Teflon sheet on Amazon and it should pop right up.

Basic tests I've run with water and liquor in separate mason jars, sat upside down, have shown good results

This is just what I've worked out to be the best solution for me. I am still very green at this... So any criticisms are very welcome!! Still trying to learn.

[Durhommer]

That works too..
You will eventually grow to aging in one gallon glass balloon with natural corks and barrels...I've started using old likker bottles from local bars to put drinking proof in my wife's girlfriend also gives me empty bottles too.i mainly use my Mason jars for my actual run as collection vessels

[GCB3]

As an alternate, you can buy very thin PTFE lid inserts from US Plastics. Go a step further an order SS lid rings on Amazon and throw away the original lid ring and inserts. The result is a fully comparable lid with no unapproved, leachable plastics or varnish in your hard earned product. It’ll cost a couple of bucks a jar but they are reusable and SAFE.

[Twisted Brick]

I've started using old likker bottles from local bars to put drinking proof in my wife's girlfriend

Uh, how does this work out with your wife?

[Durhommer]

Ha ha point out my shitty grammar but the wife has been on this girlfriend kick for about 5 years now same one no issues

[bubba]

in the grocery yesterday .[very small country store] TP was NA ,, all the wheat flour was gone , sugar was depleted but they had 2 sets 1/2 gallon Ball Canning jars .. 10 $ for 6 . i bought one left one..
i am not going to become anal about the sealing lids, interior surface has unspecified [as far as i know] coating, sealing surface has a different colored [softer ] sealing product [unspecified] . this +stuff+ will only be exposed to fumes , not concentrated product . angst on a shoe string ,, Why Worry.. . a good solution in my mind at this time is very thin copper foil . copper is approved for storage ? . procure copper foil , apply copper foil carefully to the sealing lid , apply the ring , no sweat seals good [ i expect] then if you are exceptionally anal find wood veneer [ select your wood] and place that wood veneer between the sealing surface , so the concept is..
original as from market lids and rings , laminate copper foil , laminate wood veneer of choice, crank it on.. my self ima gonna not worry , no intention of sealing tight but i will examine the condition of the interior of the sealing lid and adjust judgement as required..
i am not really sure the teflon does not leach . no one proved it does , no one proved it dint.
before knowing i suggest copper foil laminated , wood of choice laminated .

[Porcupino]

As an alternate, you can buy very thin PTFE lid inserts from US Plastics. Go a step further an order SS lid rings on Amazon and throw away the original lid ring and inserts. The result is a fully comparable lid with no unapproved, leachable plastics or varnish in your hard earned product. It’ll cost a couple of bucks a jar but they are reusable and SAFE.

Yes I mentioned the US plastic ones. But they're more expensive with shipping. The only ss lids I saw on Amazon have silicone inserts... Which still isn't HD approved. Can you link ones that don't have the silicone?

[cob]

It looks like you may have already read this thread

viewtopic.php?f=89&t=49410&hilit=jar+lids

in this thread I think I left a link for solid stainless lids.

stainless foil was mentioned a couple times and is available on the net in 1mm.thickness.

I have a 400 sq foot roll in my shop for heat treating cost less than $300 us.

copper foil is also available.

[Porcupino]

Oh looks like you posted the Teflon paper. I totally missed that.

The ss caps I found linked had silicone on the inside. Doesn't look like you were the one that linked it tho

[cob]

Oh looks like you posted the Teflon paper. I totally missed that.

The ss caps I found linked had silicone on the inside. Doesn't look like you were the one that linked it tho

the link is at the bottom of my post on page 5 . MtRainer discovered the silicone seals are removable

I don't seem to be able to copy and paste that link to this thread

[GCB3]

Porcupino, these are the ones I have:

[GCB3]

Some have gone to USplatics website and bought the ptfe discs - these didn't quite fit my widemouth jars - and 12-15 bucks for shippin just didn't rub me right.

Oops. Sorry Porcupino. Somehow I blew right by this comment.

[StuNY]

I age everything in 2qt Mason Jars and it is just the right size for me- a small test batch gives me two full jars, and a large regular batch fills 7. A single stick from top to bottom of the jar. Easy to handle, test different aging woods etc. Also, I just flip the lid upside down so the metal side is facing the spirits. Nice white surface to write on with a sharpie too. I don't loose anything to evaporation over a year- which is the longest mine go! Oh, also keep the box and plastic intact- makes for an easy way handle and store away 6 jars (3 gallons) at a time.

[8Ball]

The 3.5 inch ptfe discs from US Plastics fit inside the wide mouth plastic lids perfectly. Put a coffee filter on top of the jar first, then lightly snug up the lid so there is air exchange and the bugs stay out. I bought a couple dozen discs (yea, you have to pay shipping) and have more than enough for my hobby needs.

I also use gallon jugs with natural corks. Cut a small groove in the sides to allow for air exchange.

[Porcupino]

I also use gallon jugs with natural corks. Cut a small groove in the sides to allow for air exchange.

I also use half gallon growlers with a cork. But why cut a small groove for exchange? Wouldn't you lose product? Sorry if that's a naive question.

[Durhommer]

Have you done your required reading???? Scroll all the way down ....yeah the bottom of the page see where it says Angel's share....

[Durhommer]

Bummer well there is a thing called Angel's share google it

[8Ball]

I also use gallon jugs with natural corks. Cut a small groove in the sides to allow for air exchange.

I also use half gallon growlers with a cork. But why cut a small groove for exchange? Wouldn't you lose product? Sorry if that's a naive question.

https://homedistiller.org/wiki/index.php/index.ph ... %27s_Share

[Porcupino]

Have you done your required reading???? Scroll all the way down ....yeah the bottom of the page see where it says Angel's share....

I had and am aware of the Angel's share. I guess I just didn't realize a hole/cut in the cork would be necessary. I had assumed cork allowed the product to breathe naturally without the hole/cut

[NZChris]

My solution is to not use jars that I can't get natural cork for and that automatically excludes Mason jars. By being patient but alert, I've slowly accumulated enough glass demijohns for my aging purposes. Buying natural cork bungs for them hasn't been as cheap as I'd like, but when I read of the lengths some people go to to make Mason jars do what they want them to, I'm happy with that choice.

If I want a cork to breath, I don't put it in so tightly that it can't. If I want a lot of exchange, I have cotton cloth between the cork and the glass.

[rubelstrudel]

IKEA flip top bottles "korken" with a piece of plumbers PTFE tape for extra sealing and protecting the lid rubber from alcohol vapors works great. The contact area between bottle seal and vapours are minimal to begin with and easily isolated from the bottle contents with a 1 inch piece of plumbers PTFE tape.

Plumbers PTFE sealing tape for extra sealing

With cap closed, sealed tight.

These bottles are cheap, plentiful, and easy on the eye. Useful both as gifts and as storage.

[cayars]

Drill or use a hole saw to cut a hole in the mason jar lid to fit the size natural cork you want to use.
Then put the lid metal size down and cork it as StuNY mentioned.

[StuNY]

Anyone have links to some good reading (now that I have some time!) on the purpose of "breathing" of the spirit during aging? I get that the old oak barrels leaked/breathed and gave up the "angels share" but wonder how important it is to the process vs just the way it was? I see so many conflicting points of view:

Heating and cooling cycles- change the pressure inside the container, moving the spirit in and out of the oak. Makes sense to me- but what happens if you have a pinhole in your cork or vent in some way- no change in pressure, does the spirit still go in and out of the oak? Just soak it up? Make a difference?

I have read other articles that say that oak in staves in itself does not "breath"- the grain direction and density don't allow gases to escape. Clearly the spirit travels part way through the wood as I see in my staves when cutting them apart after use. Most of the used JD staves that I use show signs on the outside of leaking- must be a real issue even in production.

I currently just seal up my spirit in mason jars with an oak stick. I keep them in an attic that fluctuates with daily temperature cycles. After 6 months to a year they have the flavor I like (scotch and bourbons). From my own aging trials I have learned that aging in the cold (my basement) does not work so well, very slow. Aging in warm environment is better. Then finally aging with more temperature cycling best of all (attic). Aging over the summer is best, but winter still good just a little slower. Anybody do a direct aging experiment yet with sealed vs vented? If not, I have a batch of bourbon finishing up this week and may set up a (slow) experiment!

Links or thoughts?- Thanks!

[Corsaire]

Oxidative aging is a term that should yield results. Basically it's allowing chemicals to bond with oxygen. Oxygen can travel through oak barrels. And there's always some end grain exposed in a barrel, allowing for capillary action.

Sorry, no links as I'm at work.

[GCB3]

This is the thread that convinced me to use PTFE inserts instead of turning the mason jar lid inserts upside down for distilled Ethanol. This is especially true when storing cut jars for blending later.
https://www.google.com/url?client=inter ... zDme4mJmhM

Call it anal retentive or obsessive, but, it works for me. YMMV

[StuNY]

Thanks Corsaire, I found a lot to read about Oxidative aging and it was very helpful. Here is a pretty good link that kept my head spinning for quite a while! Looks like it has more parts to it as well, a lot of great aging information in here:

https://distilling.com/distillermagazin ... n-studies/

[rolling]

These are 4"x4" PTFE squares. I got 100 for $20us.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07WJ ... il-bullets

[Greig56]

What's this about a lot of folks having found the lining on the insert of the mason jar lid is NOT HD APPROVED. The HD being? These are all I keep my high proof hooch in to age! So what's with the tops?

[ShineonCrazyDiamond]

The HD is this forum. The Home Distiller. The site you chose to be a part of and learn from.

The main thread is linked above for all the information you seek.

[Birrofilo]

I suggest considering flip top wide-mouth jars, such as the Fido series.
Most of the lid is glass.
You only have to cover the gasket with PTFE just like we do with silicon gasket of the stills. You do this work only once and it is pretty fast.
The jars can also be used for other kinds of food, such as maturing Sauerkrauts or making Kombucha. If you take care that the spring is not too tight, the pressure of the CO2 inside the jar will escape from the jar and the jar will remain in positive pressure, therefore no air will enter while ensuring that the jar will not crack or explode.

If you want to age your spirit with air contact, you just fill half of the jar and periodically just open and then close again the jars, so that you let the "angels' share" which has accumulated inside the jar to escape and new air to replace it.