Smoker pellets for aging?

[Akthor]

So I have a pellet smoker. So I was reading about flavoring whiskey with different woods and I got to thinking " can I use the pellets I use in my smoker? "

[Wild Bill]

I would think they would be too much surface area especially when the swell up, crumble apart and generally make a mess. Not sure I have seen them in white oak either?

[Euphoria]

Besides the fact that those pellets just fall apart when they get wet, I'm not sure what chemicals they use for a binder to make those sawdust pellets. They are just "floor sweepin's" and who knows what all other contaminants are in those things as well. Not sure I'd want any of that in my hootch. I'd stick to solid wood chips, like those Jack Daniels oak chips they also make for smoking. Just my 2 cents.

[Expat]

While the pellets do not contain glue, its still anyone's guess what wood is actually in there. And as Wild Bill mentioned it will swell and expand into a mess that would require filtering.

At least with a stave you know what you're getting.

[still_stirrin]

So....can I use the pellets I use in my smoker?

There are many, much better options available. Sometimes it is better to “swim with the current” than try to “buck” it.
ss

[HDNB]

hmm... those pellets seem to be stuck together. what do you suppose they use to glue them?

or are they 100% sawdust swept up of the floor that guys have been walking through, after they cleaned up after the dog?

my vote goes for hell no.

[Expat]

As i understand it, the process uses both tempurature and pressure. The binding agents are the natural lignins found in the wood, so no glues.

Yeah, as I said, you'd really have no idea whats in there.

[cuginosgrizzo]

oh well, if they are pellets specifically intended for smoking food, then for sure they do not contain any glue or chemical that would render them useless for that purpose.

I would not use them directly in my spirit, though, because of the mess they would do once they swell and crumble apart. Have you thought of smoking the spirit? or temper the spirit with smoked water?