Oak Barrel Charring

[waylyn]

Just got me a new 30ltr American Oak Barrel uncharred, is there anyway of charring a barrel at home or is it a job for a cooper?

[Mud Mechanik]

Rubber Duck posted a reply within a thread on charring barrels in the last week, I'l see if I can find it.

[Mud Mechanik]

http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... =4&t=23441

Here ya go.

[waylyn]

Thanks Mud Mechanik

[rubber duck]

Use the thing unchared first, you can get a really nice whiskey from a toasted barrel. Use it 2 or 3 times the way it is then char it. You can even drop some chared oak sticks in it if you want but don't go messing around with a perfectly good new barrel.

That's what I would do.

[Dnderhead]

duck is right,,if you want chard just add some charcoal.it will do the same.and can be replaced.

[waylyn]

Thanks for the advice, I was a bit daunted by having to do this to a new barrel, I will source some good woodchips from the Uk if there are any

[Dnderhead]

you dont want chips you want hardwood charcoal..

[waylyn]

Thanks for the info, are there any good suppliers in the UK that you know of, would rather go with a recommended supplier if poss

[Dnderhead]

i have no idea what is available in uk, the type of wood will impact the flavor some.
you can make your own, place some wood in a closed container with a vent,, heat
on a barbecue (out side) when it stops "gassing off" its done.
a old pot works good but a can will work.
I made one out of a ss pot,used a tube for vent then run that so it bubbles threw water, this not only gives charcoal but also "smoke flavoring"

[blind drunk]

Hey waylyn, I've used some high quality, untreated white oak flooring, heart wood. You have to be careful and make sure it's absolutely natural wood, no stain, preservative or finish of any kind. I got it from a friend who's a brilliant floor install and wood guy. He also made me some maple sticks from some heart wood maple planking that he uses for his projects. If you do go this route, make sure the guy knows his/her stuff and the wood is absolutely natural. You can also use some oak wood staves from an old barrel. Just sand it clean and carry on. Good luck.

[waylyn]

Sounds good, I can't wait to get upto the 30ltr of ujssm to give it ago

[Coaster]

@ waylyn,

Suggest getting a bag of Jack Daniels Wood Smoking Chips. Get a thoroughly clean metal one-gallon paint can. Use an ice pick and randomly punch some very small holes in the paint can. Put the Jack Daniels Wood Smoking Chips in the paint can and put the lid on the paint can. ‘Chare’ the Jack Daniels Wood Smoking Chips by placing the paint can with the Jack Daniels Wood Smoking Chips on a barbecue grill and “Bake” the Jack Daniels Wood Smoking Chips until the smoke stops seeping from the holes in the paint can. Allow the paint can with the Jack Daniels Wood Smoking Chips to thoroughly cool before removing the lid from the paint can. Use these ‘Charred’ Jack Daniels Wood Smoking Chips in your Oak Barrel.

Regards,
Coaster

[waylyn]

I like the idea of that one, thanks for the input

[mash rookie]

I like the idea of that one, thanks for the input

Bad advice.

You dont want to char JD chips. I have tried. Use them as is. They will give color and help smooth your liquor. They work. They are moist from used barrels and will not char like new white oak. It will be like burning sugar. It will ruin the flavor.

If you want to char something char some fresh white oak or oak staves from a dry barrel.
Used barrel staves don’t impart as much woody tannin flavor as new oak.

MR

[Prairiepiss]

@ waylyn,

Suggest getting a bag of Jack Daniels Wood Smoking Chips. Get a thoroughly clean metal one-gallon paint can. Use an ice pick and randomly punch some very small holes in the paint can. Put the Jack Daniels Wood Smoking Chips in the paint can and put the lid on the paint can. ‘Chare’ the Jack Daniels Wood Smoking Chips by placing the paint can with the Jack Daniels Wood Smoking Chips on a barbecue grill and “Bake” the Jack Daniels Wood Smoking Chips until the smoke stops seeping from the holes in the paint can. Allow the paint can with the Jack Daniels Wood Smoking Chips to thoroughly cool before removing the lid from the paint can. Use these ‘Charred’ Jack Daniels Wood Smoking Chips in your Oak Barrel.

Regards,
Coaster

I can beleave you typed Jack Daniels Wood Smoking Chips 7 times in that post.
And after Dnderhead posted this.

you dont want chips you want hardwood charcoal..[ /quote]

[Dnderhead]

this post started as "charring a barrel"
chips wont replace that,my suggestion was to add charcoal rather than taking apart a new barrel,charring and trying to put it back together.
chips are to add flavor when a barrel is not available.charcoal "mellows"
so if you do not have a barrel or have a depleted barrel then use chips to add flavor,but if you want to "mellow" as a chard barrel does
just use charcoal added to the barrel/jar/filter.these are two different things.

now id suggested making your own charcoal.just make sure its not toxic,, from maple ,fruit wood.oak. make good charcoal ,all add a bit
different flavor..iv found cherry is interesting but have not decided in what.

[mash rookie]

I have a long handle oxy-propane rosebud torch head. It might be possible to char a barrel without opening. Why would you? They sell them charred don’t they?

If you don’t buy a charred one, will you always have to used charred staves?

[blind drunk]

MR, the OP asked about charring his brand new toasted barrel. It was recommended that he use his brand new toasted barrel on some whiskey and then, after getting most of the good stuff from the toasted barrel, he could char it for other uses, like bourbon. Or he could use charred sticks to compliment the toasted barrel. That's how I read it.

[Dnderhead]

right, iv used a bunch of barrels I try not to take them apart unless something is wrong with them. (bad leaks etc)
even well used ones .iv found if you make a stick that fits into bung hole attach a ss I and one in the bung. char this
the way you want. then you can change/remove at will.

[waylyn]

Thanks, for the info I will source some charred sticks

[calo151]

hi I recently bought a chestnut barrel and it looks like it might have been varnished, how can you check if it is just something else?

[scout]

scrape the outside lightly with the edge of a knife, you will know if it has a finish on it by the scrapings.