Re-Barreling to age?

[shhawke]

First post here, so I apologize if this is a dumb question. I have purchased a 5-gallon barrel from a cooperage. Medium Char (Level 3 or So)

I am planning on filling it with Benchmark Full Proof to age longer. My plan it to put it in my garage and test it every 3 months or so, but to age for 2 years. Temps in Kansas fluctuate a lot and the garage while connected to the house is not temp controlled.
I have heard from a few people that you should not age already bottled whiskey for more than 3-4 months.
What are the do and don't on this?
Is 2 years a terrible idea?

[still_stirrin]

Welcome here neighbor.

A 5 gallon cask is a big vessel. That’s a lot of whiskey and could take some time to fill. Bear in mind that a partially filled cask will evaporate faster than a fully filled cask. This will lead to increased losses. So, it is often wise to wait to fill the cask until you can fill it to at least 75% volume, preferably even fuller. Of course there will be a little ullage (air space) in the top of the cask, but that doesn’t need to be a large volume. The wood itself will provide plenty of air exchange to the aging spirit.

For a 5 gallon cask, 2 years will be a good target to shoot for. Smaller casks age faster, so sometimes it is easier to start your venture into this hobby with a smaller cask. But 5 gallons is an admirable goal. Just be prepared to brew a lot of beers and to keep your still at hand. By the time you’ve filled a 5 gallon cask, you’ll understand very well the quirks of your system.

Good luck. And have fun. Be safe, responsible, and discrete.
ss

p.s. - questions? PM me.

[shhawke]

Welcome here neighbor.

A 5 gallon cask is a big vessel. That’s a lot of whiskey and could take some time to fill. Bear in mind that a partially filled cask will evaporate faster than a fully filled cask. This will lead to increased losses. So, it is often wise to wait to fill the cask until you can fill it to at least 75% volume, preferably even fuller. Of course there will be a little ullage (air space) in the top of the cask, but that doesn’t need to be a large volume. The wood itself will provide plenty of air exchange to the aging spirit.

For a 5 gallon cask, 2 years will be a good target to shoot for. Smaller casks age faster, so sometimes it is easier to start your venture into this hobby with a smaller cask. But 5 gallons is an admirable goal. Just be prepared to brew a lot of beers and to keep your still at hand. By the time you’ve filled a 5 gallon cask, you’ll understand very well the quirks of your system.

Good luck. And have fun. Be safe, responsible, and discrete.
ss

p.s. - questions? PM me.

Thanks for the reply. I will be filling the cask with Benchmark Full Proof whiskey. I have 2 cases. I plan to fill the barrel with it to age. Just not real clear on what timeframe would be ideal vs too long.

[still_stirrin]

I want to add a comment to your question of “re-barreling” a commercial whisky. It will work to improve the store-bought. But, we tend to age spirits at 120-130 proof cask entry. Most commercial whiskeys are bottled at 86-90 proof. The lower proof will pull different qualities from the wood than our typical cask entry proof. Higher entry proof will extract more of the drying tannins from the wood, while lower cask entry proof will draw out more of the sweetness or caramel character from the wood.

When aging in a cask, the temperature as well as barometric pressure (relative humidity) affects the rate of evaporation and what evaporates, water or alcohol. Winters with cool, dry air will evaporate water faster than alcohol, resulting in the proof going up. And hot, humid summers will evaporate the alcohol faster, causing your proof to go down over time.

“Polishing” a commercial whiskey is not uncommon. But since this is a hobby distilling website, we tend to focus on our own “homemade” spirits more than a commercial product.

I hope this helps answer your questions.
ss

[still_stirrin]

… I will be filling the cask with Benchmark Full Proof whiskey. I have 2 cases. I plan to fill the barrel with it to age. Just not real clear on what timeframe would be ideal vs too long.

Well, time is relative. A couple of months would probably be a minimum. 6 months more likely would start to get nice. If you can wait a year, I believe you’ll be rewarded. Sampling along the journey will answer your question. You may discover it gets better until it’s gone!
ss

[shhawke]

That is great info. Thank you.
The whiskey I picked is 125 proof, for the exact reasons you mentioned.
I expect my garage temps to be 40-100 degrees through the year.

I looked online for some forums that were more in line what with I am going to do, but did not have much luck. I concluded that the expertise on this page would probably be very valuable considering you all start from scratch and have a better understanding of do's and don'ts.

[Windy City]

I looked up Benchmark Full Proof whiskey and it is 125 proof, so you are good to go on proof.
Did you get a new barrel or a once used barrel? I would think you would do much better with a used barrel.
A new barrel will be easy to over oak it as it has already been aged once. Where as a used barrel seems to bring over more caramels and toffee.
Good Luck

[shhawke]

I looked up Benchmark Full Proof whiskey and it is 125 proof, so you are good to go on proof.
Did you get a new barrel or a once used barrel? I would think you would do much better with a used barrel.
A new barrel will be easy to over oak it as it has already been aged once. Where as a used barrel seems to bring over more caramels and toffee.
Good Luck

Thanks for the input. I actually went with a new barrel. I thought that would be better as I am hoping to see how well this can improve without influence of as different brand. As far as getting over oaked, that is defiantly a concern, and I am hoping that 24 months more age would reduce that. I am hopeful that after 12 months the over oak will begin to taper off. Any thoughts?

[Windy City]

Check out the thesis in my original post on this thread.
viewtopic.php?t=80899
Although it is not about rebarreling, it does speak to long term aging in small barrels and the changes that happen.
hope it helps

[shhawke]

Check out the thesis in my original post on this thread.
viewtopic.php?t=80899
Although it is not about rebarreling, it does speak to long term aging in small barrels and the changes that happen.
hope it helps

That is very helpful and more or less exactly what I was thinking as well. Thank you.

[jonnys_spirit]

I would expect a 5g barrel to lose 1/3 to 1/2 or so to the angels in 24 months... If the whiskey you're using is white dog then 24 months would be good for a new barrel IMO. I have one now that's at about 18 months and it's very good

You might want to make some more as it ages to keep it topped up Probably more economical to make it than purchasing it

Cheers,
jonny

[shhawke]

I would expect a 5g barrel to lose 1/3 to 1/2 or so to the angels in 24 months... If the whiskey you're using is white dog then 24 months would be good for a new barrel IMO. I have one now that's at about 18 months and it's very good

You might want to make some more as it ages to keep it topped up Probably more economical to make it than purchasing it

Cheers,
jonny

Thats good to know. I was not sure what to expect as far as evaporation. I knew it would be a fair amount in a 5-gallon barrel though.

[jonnys_spirit]

I would expect a 5g barrel to lose 1/3 to 1/2 or so to the angels in 24 months... If the whiskey you're using is white dog then 24 months would be good for a new barrel IMO. I have one now that's at about 18 months and it's very good

You might want to make some more as it ages to keep it topped up Probably more economical to make it than purchasing it

Cheers,
jonny

Thats good to know. I was not sure what to expect as far as evaporation. I knew it would be a fair amount in a 5-gallon barrel though.

It depends on environment too as SS suggested. Temps, Humidity, how often you test it and sample volume... I just can't keep my barrels full! As I test more it get's older and older and the likker:wood ratio decreases and it get's better and better!

Recommend looking into a solera setup to age and keep it topped up If you;re not making your own likker yet you probably will be soon

My first experiments were aging commercial corn spirits, rum, and tequila in a couple gallon jugs with toasted/charred JD barrel oak chips (proofed up to 120pf with everclear). Those got to be about a year old and enjoyable and I asked myself why am I not making my own spirits to keep these jugs going? Couldn't think of a good reason so here we are!

Gibbs brothers cooperage makes consistently high quality barrels btw..

Cheers and best luck with your barreling experiments
-j

[shhawke]

I would expect a 5g barrel to lose 1/3 to 1/2 or so to the angels in 24 months... If the whiskey you're using is white dog then 24 months would be good for a new barrel IMO. I have one now that's at about 18 months and it's very good

You might want to make some more as it ages to keep it topped up Probably more economical to make it than purchasing it

Cheers,
jonny

Thats good to know. I was not sure what to expect as far as evaporation. I knew it would be a fair amount in a 5-gallon barrel though.

It depends on environment too as SS suggested. Temps, Humidity, how often you test it and sample volume... I just can't keep my barrels full! As I test more it get's older and older and the likker:wood ratio decreases and it get's better and better!

Recommend looking into a solera setup to age and keep it topped up If you;re not making your own likker yet you probably will be soon

My first experiments were aging commercial corn spirits, rum, and tequila in a couple gallon jugs with toasted/charred JD barrel oak chips (proofed up to 120pf with everclear). Those got to be about a year old and enjoyable and I asked myself why am I not making my own spirits to keep these jugs going? Couldn't think of a good reason so here we are!

Gibbs brothers cooperage makes consistently high quality barrels btw..

Cheers and best luck with your barreling experiments
-j

I like the way you think. And I agree 100%
Probably moving in a few years and play to build a "rickhouse" wall in the garage when that happens. Definatly want to make my own by then.
To clarify. What are your thoughts on keeping it topped off from the extra bottes I have as it ages? Would that defeat the purpose or be just fine?

[jonnys_spirit]

I like the way you think. And I agree 100%
Probably moving in a few years and play to build a "rickhouse" wall in the garage when that happens. Definatly want to make my own by then.
To clarify. What are your thoughts on keeping it topped off from the extra bottes I have as it ages? Would that defeat the purpose or be just fine?

Topping up w/extra bottles would be fine. You could also fill a gallon jug about 2/3 full and throw in 2 or 3 charred oak fingers and use that for top up so it's also aging...

Cheers,
j

[shhawke]

I like the way you think. And I agree 100%
Probably moving in a few years and play to build a "rickhouse" wall in the garage when that happens. Definatly want to make my own by then.
To clarify. What are your thoughts on keeping it topped off from the extra bottes I have as it ages? Would that defeat the purpose or be just fine?

Topping up w/extra bottles would be fine. You could also fill a gallon jug about 2/3 full and throw in 2 or 3 charred oak fingers and use that for top up so it's also aging...

Cheers,
j

Thats a great idea. I had not considered that. Thank you.