What do y'all think of this?

[SAPmaker]

As most of you know I'm just starting. What do y'all think of something like this (see link). Or would I just see only a marginal differance with this versus aging with sticks. I think , in time, I can produce enough for this in two batches. Or6 would I be better served to buy the smaller barrel that I can accommodate with one run. I'm a ways off from here but am looking for experiance advise before moving forward. Thanks in advace as usual.



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[SIXFOOTER]

Honestly, I think you would be better served by concentrating on getting your rig together, then pick 1 recipe like Birdwatchers and go with that until you got your legs under you.
After a few batches you may then be ready to think about all the other accouterments like those barrels.
I think a lot of guys in here if not most use oak chips or sticks. its more efficient than a barrel.

[SAPmaker]

Thanks for your reply to my question. As I did prior to building my still and making my first run, I plan to put some thought behind my decisions before jumping head long into it. I do have my rig together and have had several, what I consider, succesful runs. I am several months away from the aging and flavoring step, that's why I am looking at this now, rather than waiting till the moment I'm ready and making a not so well thought out choice based on time rather then desired goals and expectations. I'm really just gathering data, which will include experianced opinions, for my desicion making process. It seems to me that sticks or chips would serve better as a shot term flavoring method as you recomended. For me, this hobby is much more about the process of coming to the desired result rather than the results themselves, so the time required for aging in a barrel is less of a factor. I do wonder if the size of the barrel will have any adverse affects the process itself. I would expect the time to be cut much shorter due to quantity, but would the smaller contact surface area conteract that affect and make it a useless point to consider? Wondering if anyone has any experiance with these small barrels.

[SIXFOOTER]

OK, sounds like you have the process down well enough.
The chips or sticks are more efficient because for 1 you can see the color of your product in a glass jar and because of the surface area/volume and you don't have to have enough product to fill the barrel.
Other than that, they look quite nice sitting on the shelf.

[humbledore]

The smaller barrels have more surface area per volume than the large ones. So product will age quicker in them. So I have heard.

[aj2456]

just starting out too pretty much but im very happy with the oak sticks ive made and their impact (nuthin better than a freebie, so beats the barrel's for me atm)

But if they were cheaper overhere i would be looking into them for when i get the time to make some proper grain whiskey (a small barrel empty costs about the equivilent storebought spirit it would take to fill it)

simply because i dont like having litres of obviously DIY spirits aging in the house for anyone to look at/access (a barrel might be full of for wine/cider etc and less likely for someone to poke there nose in i reckon)