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ordered an oak barrell today if I can just make something worthy of putting in it Ill be set. How long yall think It will need to stay in or just stick in there and forget about it.

Depends on how long you're willing to wait I guess. Personally I would use oak chips to get the same effect without losing any whiskey due to the keg breathing.......Up to 30% or more.
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The longer the better, buts it's sure hard to stay out of.

golden pond:

The longer the better, buts it's sure hard to stay out of.

lol, most ppl blame the whiskey angels for stealing, but I bet a lot of loss can be attributed to something a little closer to earth

I've got this damn 2 legged angel who keeps tasting to see if it is still as good as last time. By the time he's (me) finished there's not much left to age.

if you got a good barrel it'll be better than any sticks. and good luck staying out of it

I really liked tasting it as it aged. fun to see how it changed...

Guy told me to fill it with water to check for leaks I guess it needs to be distilled water? Yall think wine would be better to check leaks with I got few gallons that didnt turn out well I was going to run.

Just clean water is fine. Leave it in a few days. It took about 6 or 7 months for my 15 gallon barrels to surpass oak cubes, charred white oak, and maple syrup. In the long run the barrel is supperior. If you must get into it now and then to sample, replace the popular bung with a redwood one fron grape and grainery. Turn the barrel every week or so to keep the bung hole wet less it crack. Keep the barrel in a non climate controled place. The amount of flavor in the barrel will determine how long you need to leave it in. A strong whiskey flavor = longer, sugar whiskey = shorter. Best is fill it in cold weather, let it go through at least one summer and back to cold weather again. Keep it in a cool dry place until you can fill it. best to leave in in the box in a basement. Actually you should have had the whiskey ready before ordering. I will be taking out my lightest after one year, then another heavier at two, and the best at three years.

Rockycreek gave you some good advise. When your new barrel arrives fill it with water untill you are ready to use it, keep adding water untill it quits leaking. When you drain the water cover the bung hole with screen wire to keep the (loose) charcole in. If you keep it full for at least two weeks and put your whiskey in at 130 proof your angeles share will be very little. If at all posible stay out of it for at least a year (in a new barrel it will be fair by then). Remember to dilute down to 100 proof or less with good spring water. 100 proof for mixed drinks, 80 proof for burbon on the rocks is a good place to start.
I hope you ordered your barrel drilled for a spigot, and got a spigot too.
If you did'nt be sure to use copper tubing for a sifleing hose and don't sifle from the bottom (that's where the loose charcole settles to).
Good luck and remember, The secret to making good whiskey is to make more than you can possibaly drink.

Oak has arrived! Did as advised filled with water. I got me two real glass test tubes.My malted grain came also and one of those and two of these and Ill take 1 more of that.I just like a kid at christmas but wife gonna shit.

"sherriff Buffoerd pusser"
but wife gonna shit.

You make me laugh Sherriff