Filling a second 5 gallon barrel

[850stealth]

Well i have one 5 gallon full that was used 3 times before. Once was the original bourbon fill from the distillery, second was my rum and the current fill is all malted barely, a mixture of 2 row, Maris otter and honey Gambrinus malt. i filled it in march of 2020 and will maybe empty it soon depending on taste. I had some extra from that run that i kept in glass on oak that i topped it up with.

This next one will be 50% 2 row malted barley, 25% wheat malt and 25% maris otter. This other barrel i have is a freshly dumped barrel mill barrel that held bourbon from the distillery for 8 months i believe. I will have some extra to top it up from any losses i experience. Im looking at adding a couple vanilla beans cut down the center to this barrel and let the beans age with the spirit. The barrels are actually 6.2 gallons. Ive never used wheat before but thought i would try it. Anyone ever done something like this. Also im looking aging this at least a year depending on taste. Like i said my current barrel was sitting since March of 20 so if its ready ill have alot to drink until this one is ready.

[The Booze Pipe]

Well i have one 5 gallon full that was used 3 times before. Once was the original bourbon fill from the distillery, second was my rum and the current fill is all malted barely, a mixture of 2 row, Maris otter and honey Gambrinus malt. i filled it in march of 2020 and will maybe empty it soon depending on taste. I had some extra from that run that i kept in glass on oak that i topped it up with.

This next one will be 50% 2 row malted barley, 25% wheat malt and 25% maris otter. This other barrel i have is a freshly dumped barrel mill barrel that held bourbon from the distillery for 8 months i believe. I will have some extra to top it up from any losses i experience. Im looking at adding a couple vanilla beans cut down the center to this barrel and let the beans age with the spirit. The barrels are actually 6.2 gallons. Ive never used wheat before but thought i would try it. Anyone ever done something like this. Also im looking aging this at least a year depending on taste. Like i said my current barrel was sitting since March of 20 so if its ready ill have alot to drink until this one is ready.

How did that first barrel turn out? Four years seems like a long time for a five gallon barrel, I thought the surface area was increased. I just put up a five gallon carboy of sour mash, hoping it’ll be good in 6 months, maybe 12. But I’ve been thinking it would be more fun and interesting to use an actual barrel.

Your grain bill sounds more like you’re brewing a beer, it might be bland for a whiskey. Or maybe it’ll be super awesome. but a lot of folks use wheat in their whiskey, It’s very good especially with corn. You could add corn to the mash bill and call it bourbon. Or switch the wheat for some un-malted barley and call it a single-malt.

[Deplorable]

I did a 2nd fill barrel mill of 50/50 2 row pale and Marris Otter that I left for 18 months, and it was phenomenal. (Still hoarding a half gallon of it)
You must really like Vanilla if you're thinking of adding beans to a 2nd fill barrel. I still got plenty of Vanilla on my 3rd fill of that barrel with HBB and a few supplemental toasted and charred oak sticks.

[The Booze Pipe]

I would have never thought this was a common recipe. Seems like it would be bland. Where do you find the barrels?

[Bushman]

Google solera method for aging. You can use barrels or jars, I used a combination as I didn’t have 3 barrels at the time I started using the method. It’s a rotating method so you never fully empty a barrel unless you take a break from distilling.

[The Booze Pipe]

Google solera method for aging. You can use barrels or jars, I used a combination as I didn’t have 3 barrels at the time I started using the method. It’s a rotating method so you never fully empty a barrel unless you take a break from distilling.

Thanks I’ll dive in.

[Twisted Brick]

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