Oak Aging Barrels

[Morrey]

Does anyone have a good source for the best price and best quality 3-5L oak barrels for aging? Thanks!

[Farmboy]

Gibbs Brothers in Hot Springs, Ark. The BEST!

[Boda Getta]

+1 for Gibbs Bros

[Morrey]

Gibbs Brothers in Hot Springs, Ark. The BEST!

Thank you...I'll look them up online.

[Morrey]

I contacted Gibbs by email to inquire about the 1 gallon barrel. It is pretty spendy and including the basic keg, siphon, rack and bung, with shipping to SC is close to $170. More than I expected

What is odd to me is the owner said that I'll only get two uses from this keg. I was under the impression they would infuse and age moonshine whisky far longer than that?

[MichiganCornhusker]

1 gallon is pretty small. For something like that I would consider something like this:
http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... =4&t=60032" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow
I've got 3 of them going, each holding about 6 qts.

You can reuse a barrel many times by adding some toasted and/or charred oak inside.
That will add flavors and you will still get breathing from the barrel.

[FullySilenced]

Gibbs barrel move up to the 3 gallon or 5 gallon size you will not regret it ....

Happy Stillin,

FS

[ShineonCrazyDiamond]

My Gibbs 5 gallon should be here Monday! Though it will have a "Do not open till Christmas" tag on it, and I'm not supposed to know about it. But when the wife says, "come home late, a package is coming I don't want you to see..."

Doesn't stop me from mashing a barrel tomorrow in anticipation...should be able to fill it the day I get it (except of course after the swelling process)

P.s.

Anyone have a handy link on the best procsses to swell a new Gibbs? Thanks.

[buflowing]

Follow their directions. These are no nonsense barrels from a no nonsense cooperage. They don't leak.

[rgreen2002]

http://www.homebrewing.com/equipment/whiskey-barrel/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

cyber week sale going on right now.

http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... =7&t=64027 started a thread too if you're interested

[WIski]

I have 3 barrels from "thebarrelmill". They are top quality and you can order custom char and toast at no extra cost. The heads are also charred. Ordering and follow up customer service are top notch. My son and I toured their facility. Very nice operation and good people.

[ShineonCrazyDiamond]

Follow their directions. These are no nonsense barrels from a no nonsense cooperage. They don't leak.

[ShineRunner]

I contacted Gibbs by email to inquire about the 1 gallon barrel. It is pretty spendy and including the basic keg, siphon, rack and bung, with shipping to SC is close to $170. More than I expected

What is odd to me is the owner said that I'll only get two uses from this keg. I was under the impression they would infuse and age moonshine whisky far longer than that?

Remember, you don't have to age in a barrel to get good results. A lot of people age in jars with sticks or staves and get great results. Search for t-pee's thread. You're just getting started and it may be best to save a nice barrel for later on, once you've figured things out.

As for the amount of use you'll get, the barrel will get used up as far as the char and flavors that it will provide, and it will take longer and longer to do that as it ages. Think bourbon barrels vs scotch. Takes a lot longer for scotch because they're used.. Anyways, after its "used up", you can always keep using the barrel and adding staves or sticks to it. Drill the hole out big enough to slip a charred stave inside and you've got the best of both worlds. It'll still breathe and get the oxidation benefits that are difficult to get with a jar. Jimbo used to talk about this. Search around for his posts on it.

SR

[Morrey]

I contacted Gibbs by email to inquire about the 1 gallon barrel. It is pretty spendy and including the basic keg, siphon, rack and bung, with shipping to SC is close to $170. More than I expected

What is odd to me is the owner said that I'll only get two uses from this keg. I was under the impression they would infuse and age moonshine whisky far longer than that?

Remember, you don't have to age in a barrel to get good results. A lot of people age in jars with sticks or staves and get great results. Search for t-pee's thread. You're just getting started and it may be best to save a nice barrel for later on, once you've figured things out.

As for the amount of use you'll get, the barrel will get used up as far as the char and flavors that it will provide, and it will take longer and longer to do that as it ages. Think bourbon barrels vs scotch. Takes a lot longer for scotch because they're used.. Anyways, after its "used up", you can always keep using the barrel and adding staves or sticks to it. Drill the hole out big enough to slip a charred stave inside and you've got the best of both worlds. It'll still breathe and get the oxidation benefits that are difficult to get with a jar. Jimbo used to talk about this. Search around for his posts on it.

SR

Thanks SR. I've been aging shine for years albeit a buddy used to give it to me, but as you said, I personally am new to the distilling process. All these years I have been cutting white oak off my farm and charring cubes to use direct in the shine in jars. I have taken a torch and charred the oak or sometimes in a pan on the propane burner. The pan on burner method allows for a more controlled toast level.

Like you mentioned, the benefit of a real barrel is that the barrel breaths and contributes to the mellowing process. If I could get my hands on a barrel, I got plenty of white oak that I can char or toast to infuse. If anything regarding a useable barrel comes to mind, holler back. I am in SC.