Any StaVin oak bean users?

[Smokee]

I've been using Stavin Oak beans for a year or so and have got some pretty good results. I find I get more consistency than using my own oak, it's easier and less work freeing up my time for other things. I've been getting a pound for about $25 online and a little goes a long way which brings me to the reason for this post. I'd like to hear how you use the beans. I only do all-grain anymore, I came up with my own recipe and worked the kinks out of it and get great results. I usually do 3 6-gallon runs, combine the results of each and rerun low and slow. I make uber conservative cuts and end up with about 1-1.25 gallons at about 80%. I dilute to 60%, my last run I ended up with 1.5 gallons - I only got a gallon from that spirit run. I put that 1.5 gallon into a large glass container and added 1.3oz of medium toast beans. I started the oak on 12/16/17 and usually let it hibernate for 3 months. I've tried heavy char and didn't like how much "smoke"it imparted so I ordered some medium and really like what I have at 2 months. It's hard to believe that 1.3oz's would be enough but it is and it's easy to over-oak with these. If you're thinking of trying the beans go light at first or you'll end up dumping what ya got back into the still, I did a few reruns with these!

I've been experimenting with some black cherry and have been getting some really good whiskey from it. We had a huge tree cut down and I cut it up for the wood stove. I kept a bunch of the hearts, the really deep colored, sweet smelling center cuts. I toasted it at 400* for 3 hours then charred it with a propane torch.

[raketemensch]

Huh, they kinda look like oak for a pellet stove.