Buying/Prepping A Barrel

[chemeng]

Merry Christmas All,
I think as a Christmas gift to me I'll be buying an 8L oak barrel to age some corn whiskey. I figure I'll be buying a heavy-char barrel (I think that's better than toasted for this), but after reading around some in the forums, I don't want to over-oak my hooch. Would it be worthwhile to let something disposable sit in the barrel for a few days first, to mellow it out? If so, what? (Vodka? Sherry?)
Thanks!

[Bushman]

Where are you purchasing your barrels? When you first get the barrels you will fill them with water for a day or two to make sure it seals. I wouldn't do anything else, put the booze in the barrel and then after it sits for a couple of months take a small sample out and taste it, continue doing this until you get the flavor your after. Also there is a method called the Solena Method for aging on barrels or jars. Check out this link.
http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... d#p6932027

[chemeng]

I haven't purchased it yet, still deciding where to buy it from. I think for whiskey a heavy char is better than a toast (is that so?). Right now I can't decide between a brewhaus barrel (which comes with a valve and a stand) or a Gibbs barrel (which from my reading sounds a little higher quality).
Thoughts?

[junkyard dawg]

Get the 2 gallon gibbs charred and fill it with water for a few days. Fill with whiskey... wait... but not too long. It flavors up really fast. Check it often. When it is dark and rich enough put it in glass and put some away... keep some to sample... You can refill it many times. You will love a Gibbs Bros. barrel.

[rtalbigr]

Something disposable for a few days won't do much for your barrel. Regardless of size it's gonna take a while for the distillate to infuse with the wood and actually do something. Fill it about quarter way with hot water and stand on end for 15 min. Turn to other end for 15 more minutes. If charred then shake to get loose stuff and rinse well. Fill completely with hot water and let set for 24 hrs to insure good seal.

Although a little pricey, Gibbs is goin to be your best choice. Start with whatever size your comfortable with but I think eventually you'll find 2 1/2 - 3 gal will be a minimum size.

Big R

[junkyard dawg]

It's not hard to fill a 2 gallon.

Its not really hard to fill a 5 gallon barrel either. Its a couple or 4 or 5 more runs... 'pends on how ya do it.

The important thing is to get a good barrel. Buy a Gibbs and pay attention to whats happening in it and you will be very happy. If you get a 2 gallon, take the hootch out when its good and flavorful and dark, but before it gets over oaked. The first few batches won't take long... I'd say a couple of weeks for the first couple batches... YMMV...

The thing... let it age some more. Its hard to do, but when you get to the point that you can let that happen... Thats where the magic is...

[Glock19Fan]

Just an FYI but the barrels that I have purchased (used) from tuthilltown spirits have been Gibbs.

But one thing I have picked up is the art of blending. Something simple you can do is age your whiskey in two different containers. One in the barrel, and one in glass. When you extract from the barrel, you can blend the white dog and the barreled spirit until you find a ratio that you like. Not only that, but it is an insurance incase you over oak it. Blending it with the white dog will help dilute the oak flavors.