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Hey Gents
Recently a mate of mine was talking about stoneware jugs for storing spirits.
Was wondering on the benefits of this.

Reason for saying so was as a young bloke I had a jug of Tullamore dew.... it was nice
Then bought a bottle ..... tasted like crap

This same mate had aged my crappy early attempts at stilling ( turbo yeast ) in a stone jar for a year or so and it came out nice.

Has anyone here aged in stoneware jars?
If so what are your thoughts?

TAF

Have pondered this also,as i have a few,and can get my hands on some more.

Seems that there may be a lead problem with the glaze??? I'm sure someone wiser than I can add to this.

blanik

Watch out with the old jugs. In my neck of the woods the gold miners would store mercury in them. Basically just because it once held whiskey doesn't mean it didn't hold something else.

They do smooth my white dog out nicely. I think it might be because I use a corn cob so it airs a little. I don't really know but they do take the edge off.

Thanks Guys
Tater I know you won't believe it but I did a search and only found unrelated material
Just looked at what I typed in an now know why.
Typed in Stone jugs



Thanks for the replys though

TAF

blanikdog wrote:Seems that there may be a lead problem with the glaze??? I'm sure someone wiser than I can add to this.

blanik

Dunno about problems and know nothing about pottery, but, wouldn't they only be glazed on the outside? To make them look nice?

Pottery like that can be a mixed blessing. On the one hand it can be a very nice seal if the glaze inside isnt cracked. A good glaze is almost impervious to anything, but when cracks form in the glaze, then the clay underneath can become saturated with any number of nasty things. DDT, Mercury, Tanning products, arsenic etc could have been in residence in one of these jugs long enough to contaminate it. Unless you can be sure, I would be very cautious about it. Take it to an antiques dealer, sell it and get a vessel you KNOW hasnt seen the wrong side of the road.

EDIT. Sorry I was thinking of old stoneware jars. The kind you find in the Mom and Pop antique shops all over here. If you happen to have a source of new jugs. Like these: http://www.crazycrow.com/mm5/merchant.m ... 20-150-000" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow Then maybe it could be fun. Seems a little pricey to me. Im thinking it would be almost as close to use oak barrels.