Homebrewing.com cheap barrels

[rgreen2002]

So Homebrewing.com is having a sale on their 5 gallon used whiskey barrels for "cyber week". Didn't know wood was "cyber" but who cares. These are from Balcones Distilling and were originally $99 a while back and then went up to $129. They are back on sale for $99 until this Friday! This site has been mentioned before and I believe a few have picked up a barrel or two. Maybe they could comment on them here as well!


Will need to replace the rubber bung with something but that should be easy!

Just grabbed one and have a plan for 5 gallons of bourbon


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

[nerdybrewer]

I have one, nice barrel! $20 shipping is pretty reasonable too.
I made a wood bung, easy to do.

[MichiganCornhusker]

I got one a while back. Nicely made, smells good.
Looks like it was used 2 or 3 times.
I haven't used it yet, but it looks like it will work great for a used barrel.

[buflowing]

Personally, i don't know why a stiller would buy a used barrel. You're giving up the first use, which is best for some spirits. If you want a used one for aging an all grain where you might want a lighter wood treatment, why not buy new and make your own used barrel? Check out the many barrel threads, including this one which is running concurrently.
http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... =4&t=64014

[rager]

Personally, i don't know why a stiller would buy a used barrel. You're giving up the first use, which is best for some spirits. If you want a used one for aging an all grain where you might want a lighter wood treatment, why not buy new and make your own used barrel? Check out the many barrel threads, including this one which is running concurrently.
http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... =4&t=64014

this has been my thought process too , espeacially when they wanted 130 plus shipping and tax . brought it up to the cost of a new oak barrel . and as we all know bourbon needs to be in a new oak barrel. not really a law for use but if you want to stay true to the spirits then yes. for 99 bucks its quite a deal though for rum, scotch, . thats why i never pulled the trigger. i came across a barrel at my LHBS and it was from a local distillery and was a hundred bucks. kinda kicking myself for not buying it , but i could smell the heads and their likker and i figured if im going through the process of filling a 5 gallon barrel (which would take me a looong time) i dont want some commercial likker influencing my booze. just my .02

i have to say they are nice barrels for a pretty damn good price... ill continue to watch out for a used barrel but fresh virgin bourbon will only touch new oak as far as im concerned

cheerss

[rgreen2002]

Personally, i don't know why a stiller would buy a used barrel. You're giving up the first use, which is best for some spirits. If you want a used one for aging an all grain where you might want a lighter wood treatment, why not buy new and make your own used barrel? Check out the many barrel threads, including this one which is running concurrently.
http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... =4&t=64014

this has been my thought process too , espeacially when they wanted 130 plus shipping and tax . brought it up to the cost of a new oak barrel . and as we all know bourbon needs to be in a new oak barrel. not really a law for use but if you want to stay true to the spirits then yes. for 99 bucks its quite a deal though for rum, scotch, . thats why i never pulled the trigger. i came across a barrel at my LHBS and it was from a local distillery and was a hundred bucks. kinda kicking myself for not buying it , but i could smell the heads and their likker and i figured if im going through the process of filling a 5 gallon barrel (which would take me a looong time) i dont want some commercial likker influencing my booze. just my .02

i have to say they are nice barrels for a pretty damn good price... ill continue to watch out for a used barrel but fresh virgin bourbon will only touch new oak as far as im concerned

cheerss

buflowing - I don't disagree with the idea that a used barrel isn't my number one choice. I would have to say that for the price, this used barrel is well worth purchasing for me. If I find that it is worthwhile for me to use this size barrel and I can reliably "refill" it then my next step would be for a new charred oak. Ageing seems to be the only thing that prevents me from calling my bourbon true "bourbon" (produced in the United States, made from a grain mixture that is at least 51% corn, aged in new, charred oak containers, distilled to no more than 160 proof, entered into the barrel for aging at no more than 125 proof, bottled at 80 proof or more) when I age it in glass on wood anyway.... why not give this a shot.

rager - I feel the same way. A good price that gets me one step "closer" to full on bourbon...? maybe....? A personal "want"...? probably! A good price ($119 all said and done) just the same. I just hope I don't get the headsy barrel.

Thanks gents for the thoughts.

[Single Malt Yinzer]

Personally, i don't know why a stiller would buy a used barrel. You're giving up the first use, which is best for some spirits.

For me I don't want to use a new barrel. Something like this awesome for that reason. The ultimate for me would be a 5 gallon used ex-sherry barrel.

I agree there are spirits that age more properly filled in new barrels, just not my cup of tea so to speak.

[WIski]

For someone who hasent filled and aged their own new barrel yet to end up with a used barrel this is an excellent choice. I have one. Aging apple brandy, rum, etc in the used barrels is the way to go. If your after bourbon stick with new oak. Just my honest opinion.

[nerdybrewer]

I use used barrels, I make rum predominantly and I've made a drinkable Scotch.
All the barrels I've got (5 at current count) are ex Bourbon barrels - except one that aged Rye Whiskey before I bought it.
My rum & Scotch have benefited greatly and that's what I'll continue to use.
Remember using smaller barrels works faster than using larger barrels, you get more "time and oak" effect on a greatly compacted time.
If you are using a 5 liter new oak barrel you better not let your spirit sit in there very long.
A once used 5 gallon Bourbon barrel will age your Scotch at a rate something close to 7 to 1. (if not more)
Using a used barrel does give you a small bit of what was in it before especially if you don't rinse it out before filling.
There are just so many reasons why used is the right choice for some things and new is the right choice for others, but you need to get some experience before making that choice.
Reading what others do is good, reading about what the masters do is better.

[wannab]

this has been my thought process too , espeacially when they wanted 130 plus shipping and tax . brought it up to the cost of a new oak barrel . and as we all know bourbon needs to be in a new oak barrel. not really a law for use but if you want to stay true to the spirits then yes. for 99 bucks its quite a deal though for rum, scotch, . thats why i never pulled the trigger. i came across a barrel at my LHBS and it was from a local distillery and was a hundred bucks. kinda kicking myself for not buying it , but i could smell the heads and their likker and i figured if im going through the process of filling a 5 gallon barrel (which would take me a looong time) i dont want some commercial likker influencing my booze. just my .02

i have to say they are nice barrels for a pretty damn good price... ill continue to watch out for a used barrel but fresh virgin bourbon will only touch new oak as far as im concerned

cheerss


Rager, even with rum you will taste the previous product. a friend detected the wiskey flavor in my rum, not knowing how i aged it on oak. it was in one of these barrels. wannab

[rgreen2002]

NIce discussion.... I like the opinions from all.

They extended the sale until Sunday apparently (no surprise there).

TBH - at this stage in the game I have no issues using a "not new barrel" for bourbon for me... Of course that's me. I already have "bourbon" sitting in glass on charred oak so...not real "bourbon" there but it tastes mighty fine. This brrel just gives me more reason to make a few gallons and store it. I will compare it to my other bourbons as well (some on sticks, some in a small new barrel) and see how it comes out as well. When I feel like the barrel has lost its "flavor" then I will use it like I use glass.... throw a bunch of new charred oak sticks in my 5 gallon "container"

[buflowing]

Hey guys. I'm not knocking used barrels. When I bought my new barrels, it didn't seem to be that much of a difference in cost between new and used. If it's cost prohibited to buy new, or it's just not what you want, by all means buy used. If you fear a new one will do your spirits wrong, consider what a pro told me he does for his single malts. For first use, lower your entry proof to maybe 50 or 55%. This will reduce extraction. For second and more uses, raise it. So far it seems to work for me.

[rgreen2002]

Hey guys. I'm not knocking used barrels...

LOL... never thought you were buflowing. I'm enjoying the thread either way.

[Oldvine Zin]

I love my new Gibbs barrels and for me I don't mind spending a little more for new.

OVZ