Oak spirals

[jmesle]

I was having trouble finding dry white oak.so I decided to try some of the oak spirals heavy toast. I have 6 gallon of 100 pf UJSSM I put them in. Most of the references from the place where I bought them were for wine. Wow!!!! I put 4 of them in a 6 gallon carboy and its a light tea color already its only been 3 days. These things are doing the coloring part just fine. I think I'm gonna have to sample early in my milestone... Im sure I won't be able to leave them in 6 months but I guess we will wait and see. I like my stuff dark almost like a woodford but I believe that stage could come in a few weeks or a month....???? I don't know. I just figured I post some early results an see if anyone else had any input

[junkyard dawg]

That might be a little heavy... I'd use two spirals for 6 gallons. Its easy to add more, but you can't take it out if its too oaky...

They are a good product tho. Its my favorite oak flavoring product short of having a small barrel. I've had great luck charring them also...

[jmesle]

I took the advice and removed 2 of them that should be plenty based on the reply and what i have seen already.
Thanks JY dawg!!!

[mealstrom]

I use oak spirals a lot and love them! But remember that each spiral is good for about 3 gallons, but it's meant to age slowly in wine. So 2 per each 6 gallons is plenty if you're planning on letting it sit for some time. If you need to age something very quickly they're great for breaking in half and dropping in a 1-gallon container. After 1 day or so you should get a decent oak taste out of them, if a bit less smooth than a slow oaking.

One tip: Break the spirals into 2 or 3 pieces. Makes it MUCH easier to get them out of the carboy later.

I currently have 12 gallons of 2 different blended whiskey recipes oaking on spirals now. They colored up in a couple days and took on some good oak flavor. But I'm letting them sit for a few months because even after the oak has finished coloring everything, it seems to have a smoothing effect on the liquor after it's been sitting a few months.