Up date on P.R's aging sticks

[kiwi Bruce]

I made two copies of P.R.'s oak sticks. 11/2 X 2 X 4 to fit into a pint mason jar. The first, just plain, went into the spirit 24 hours before tasting. The second I double wrapped in Al foil and hard toasted. cold to 700F ( cold to 375C) for ten minutes, on my grill. Unwrapped it hot and let it cool in the air.It smells like cookies that just came out of the oven. It went into spirits for 12 hours before tasting.
Notes:- Untoasted after 24 hours:- maple/honey note, doing OK. Toasted after 12 hours coffee/toast interesting. Untoasted:- after 72 hours very sweet maple with bourbon under tones, removed the new stick and left on a used one.
Toasted:- after 48 hours very heavy biscuit, pleasant but almost overpowering, any longer it will lose it's whisky quality. Removed the new stick and left on an old stick. Time for a long rest in a cold fridge (5 Weeks)
The five weeks was up last night. Both samples have turned a rich bronze color. The untoasted spirit has retained it's maple tones and lost a lot of the sweetness, it's very mellow with no alcohol bite at all. A very enjoyable whisky. The toasted spirit is simply amazing. The coffee/toast have become a very complex deep flavor of caramel and toffee. It too is extremely smooth with no alcohol bite. This whisky is superb, one of the finest I have ever tasted, and I've tasted a lot of single malts over the years.
Conclusion:- P.R. your sticks work amazingly, now I'll make a larger run and have the confidence that the spirit can handle the wood. Thanks P.R.! Kiwi Bruce

[S-Cackalacky]

Just to confirm - for your experiment, one was un-fooled-around-with plain wood and the other was only toasted (no char)?

[kiwi Bruce]

Hi S-C, They both still have their original char, which is quite deep, say a #3 or #4. It penetrates the stave a good 1/4 inch. The last stave I cut, I found where the cask failed. The char had made the oak split laterally and the spirit had run sideways to both the edges and leaked. So yes, to answer you question, Both with original char, no more added my me. one just plain the other toasted. Kiwi Bruce

[kiwi Bruce]

Odin wrote:
I even advice a vodka to have at least 5 weeks of rest prior to bottling.
This is from his post "Oden's Easy Gin", I think the 5 week rest makes a huge difference. Kiwi Bruce

[fqu8847]

I have tried to find the original thread where these sticks are discussed... I can't find it anywhere!!!!
May any of you know where it is at and post a link please?

[Snackson]

http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=6890

[fqu8847]

Dear god you are a genius!!!!