Whiskey Barrel Chips

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Found these at the hardware store. I've been looking for a source of white oak and if this bag contains what it claims to I think I've found an excellent score.

I toasted a few handfuls on the grill and then hit them for a few seconds with a propane torch. Then I dunked them in some water to quench them. I've added the chips to some mason jars. About half of the chips sank to the bottom immediately. I've BBQd with many different types of hardwoods and these chips really had a nice sweet smell to them. I have high hopes.

Any comments on the look of the char?

[steve2md]

looks tasty to me!

[iDrinkWash]

Those probably work great - but I would caution you to "start small". There is probably about as much surface area in a handful of chips than a small barrel. It is really easy to go overboard (quick!). You can always add more chips later on, if you want more flavor and color. Once you have too much, then all you can do is blend with un-oaked product. IIRC, you should "rest" the chips for a little bit after toasting them - so some of the more noxious chemicals created by the burn dissipate a little.


IDrinkWash

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Yeah I think I might be seeing that. After only 24hrs there is already color. I think I might go down from 4 or 5 chunks in a jar to 2.

[woodshed]

How much per bag? Get a whole barrel charred to your specs from Independent Stave Co. for $140.00 plus shipping. Chop it up and you have a lot of wood. May not be practical for you but if it is a great way to save money.

[steve2md]

hmmmm...pull it apart and feed it to a chipper, bag it and store it! Brilliant!

[Phanatic]

I was just wondering about chips. See the thing is, down at my local HBS I can get Jack Daniel's, Jim Beam or Wilson chips but they ain't cheap - $9 for 100 grams. However, if I look online I can buy 5 kgs (11 lbs) of oak chips for $20. Seems like a much cheaper option would be to toast the oak chips with a propane or butane torch and use those instead, right?

LHBSs tend to muck you around - here I could buy a heat pad for $50-$100 depending on size, or a $25 aquarium heater that would probably do a better job.

[Buteo]

I've been using these for a couple of years now. I'm pleased with the results. You can also find them on ebay with no shipping charge or sales tax.
Beats the shit out of brew shop prices.

http://www.amazon.com/Jack-Daniels-Tenn ... wood+chips" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

[Phanatic]

Damn - that's a pretty good price, thanks.

[hellbilly007]

This time of year, in the U.S., you can find JD chips on closeout sales. I picked up a 2.94L bag for around $3 at the local grocery store.

I agree that it is advisable to go small at first. It doesn't take much at all to over do it.

[steve2md]

Damn - that's a pretty good price, thanks.

I just bought that same bag at wal-mart yesterday for $4.

[Phanatic]

Look at the crap prices we have to put up with in NZ.

http://www.brewyourownliquor.co.nz/inde ... ?TreeId=34

Hence why I might try to buy the 5 kgs oak chips for $20, toast and char them myself.

Edit - I hope it was OK to post that link here, I'm not advertising or anything.

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So far I am very happy with the change these chips are bringing. I did yank out most of the pieces I originally had in the jars - I think I was on the road to oakville. That bag is quite large - it's about 12" x 7" x 2-3" thick. At the rate I backed off to it looks like a few years supply. It was $6 and change at the corner hardware store so I am quite happy with the price. I might go back and grab another bag or two for the pantry just to be safe.