5L oak barrels.....how long to age UJSM?

[sounder_4]

I picked up 2 5L oak barrels from oakbarrelsltd.com. I've been aging corn whiskey for about 2-1/2 weeks and they're getting very oakey already....nice light amber color. How long on average should one age corn whiskey in 5 liter barrels? I've had corn whiskey that was over done in oak and it was too smokey flavored....maybe too much tannin?

What are the rules for aging? How does one know when it's aged enough? Yeah I know: by taste. But there must be a fairly popular length of time for 5 Liter kegs?

[Washashore]

You answered your own question. Taste. Ambient air temperature and relative humidity, and the fluctuations of both can DRASTICALLY affect "age" time. When the oak staves shrink in drier conditions and expand in more moist conditions, the spirit enters into and exits out of the oak. The longer it stays drier, the longer the oak is able to be adsorbed into the oak (and vise versa). This is what causes "aging".

Since your barrels are so small there is a much greater ratio of surface area of oak to spirit, which means your spirits will "age" a lot faster than the same product in a larger barrel. Just keep checking on it, only you can decide.

[Odin]

+1 Washashore.

Beware not to over oak your product.

Odin.

[NcHooch]

you can easily go 3 months in my experience, probably up to 6 on my opinion,,,,as long as you age at 60% and taste every couple weeks after 3 months, you'll be OK

[Padraig]

So do you age longer or shorter with higher proof assuming dilution to 80-90 before bottling?

[NcHooch]

I only oak at 60%
Oak as long as you can stay out of it

[Washashore]

I think 60% is just about perfect for aging. I've been going 65% (which is the highest you want to go) but am going to start casking at 60%.

As for the length of time question... I aged a whiskey in a 20L barrel last summer that was done in 3 months (nice depth, flavors, and dark amber color). I've been aging a bourbon in another 20L barrel in my attic this winter. It's been 4 months and the color is that of a very light green tea. Now that my attic is going to start getting hot, I'm expecting it to "age" fairly quickly.

[Husker]

I have tried from 55 to 70. I personally find it best to age about 64-65. 60 was ok, but I thought I got better results, fuller warmer, sweeter accents at 65.

One 'key' to it (for pot stillers), is you will be doing 2 runs, (usually) to get the right ABV. You need to learn your still, and learn just what ABV to adjust the low wines to, so you get the exact ABV on your spirit run. I have found that 28 gets me right about to 65 for my hearts.

NOTE, the above is for whiskey (my bread/butter). For my rums, its different, because I single still them. Thus, they are lower in ABV from the start. Thus they age differently.

However, everyone's pallet will be different. Some may think my whiskey is overpowering/smoky. Others may think it weak and watered down (though it is not), because there is no harshness at all. Everyone should work to make a drink that THEY like to make. Since this is a hobby, you lose nothing by trying things a little differently. It is good to start from some solid instructions, but then make the recipe your own, and for this topic, make the aging your own.

Do note, that your first batch in those little 5L barrels will be VERY different in behavior, than the 2nd (or 3rd/4th). Those barrels will lose some of their 'strength', but in doing that, you will be able to age a much longer time, and likely end up with a much smoother end product (on the 2nd/3rd batch or so).

H.

[rtalbigr]

Do note, that your first batch in those little 5L barrels will be VERY different in behavior, than the 2nd (or 3rd/4th). Those barrels will lose some of their 'strength', but in doing that, you will be able to age a much longer time, and likely end up with a much smoother end product (on the 2nd/3rd batch or so).

H.

This is an excellent point. My best whiskys come from my barrels after they've been used a time or two. I've found that with my 2.5 gal barrels that with the third use and about 5-6 months I'm getting a much better product. When you can leave the spirits on the oak for a longer period there is more time for oxidation to occur and well a host of other processes that result in smoother and more refined flavor. Time off oak is also a good thing. When I bottle I never completely fill the container, leaving an air space so oxidation can continue. Even after only 6 months in glass there is a noticeable improvement.

I've fooled around using different ABV's for aging. I've even "stepped" my ABV, starting at about 70% and then diluting down to 55%. I've pretty much settled at 65% ABV as my target because it give me what I'm looking for in my whiskys.

Big R

[Washashore]

Great input! Thank you gents...

[sounder_4]

Can 'over-oaking' be fixed by simple dilution with 'under-oaked' whiskey? That would seem to be the case. I guess a better understanding of what 'over-oaking' means would be helpful here. Perhaps 'over-oaking' imbues the whiskey with bad flavors that cannot be fixed with dilution?

I'd prefer not intentionally over-oaking in order to test my theory.....was hoping someone here would already have done that.

[Joeygiordano]

Once I am ready to age my final product, Does it go straight to the barrel or should it sit?

[still_stirrin]

Once I am ready to age my final product, Does it go straight to the barrel or should it sit?

Once off still, air and make your cuts. Then put your sweet hearts in wood. It'll color and age inside the barrel. And you can fill it (and continue to fill it) over time, meaning you don't have to wait until you have a full barrel's volume worth of spirit to fill it.

Depending on the size of the barrel, it will take some time to color and age in the barrel however. Small barrels (1 gallon or less) age significantly quicker than a full distiller's barrel (55 gallons). Time needed is proportional to vessel size; actually it is a function of volume (cubic inches) to surface area (square inches) ratio....smaller vessels have greater surface area of wood exposed to the liquid's volume.
ss

[Coug95man2]

So here's another question... Does sunlight damage the aging process? Reason I ask:
Weather is getting warmer. I thought it might accelerate the aging process setting my current project out in the sun to get warmer. Then at night it's been fairly cool. Might accelerate the process. But will UV rays be detrimental to the actual product?