Home Distiller

Reading all these posts and topics on oak barrels finally got the best of me, broke down and ordered a 20l barrel from artscraftsofmexico on eBay.
Been wanting one for awhile now. I did a 10gal all feints run the orther day and got almost five gal of the best tasting and smelling white at 85 percent I think I've ever had. Seems to me like it deserves to be put in a nice home for a little while

Nice. Feints can make an amazing drop if youre judicious about cuts. Congrats. Sounds delicious. Let us know how you like that barrel.

I was amazed at how much I got and how fast, wore me out trying to keep up with pint jars. Anyway I will definitely keep posted on how the barrel turns out. It is a big investment for small scale hobby guy and I relize how helpful the info on this forum is

I'm with you, my 20L Balcones Barrel is supposed to be delivered today.
Can't wait to go home and get it.

Remember these barrels serve 2 purposes to make a fine drop. Oxidation/Losses, and Wood flavoring. The barrels are great forever for the former. But lose wood flavoring after a couple uses, which is easily remedied by drilling a bigger bunghole, and dropping charred sticks in the barrel as needed.

Right on Jimbo, mine will be filled with Scotch.
Used by Balcones, shipped to me, filled with Scotch and aged.
Not sure how long it will take, but I'm willing to sample once every 3 months or so.

Lots of sampling is always good unless it's right before a company moring meeting lol

Finally got my barrel in Saturday on my birthday even filled it up with water and no leaks all is good. Only thing I'm concern about is th spigot looks like it has an aluminum tube as part of it?

You can change them out. Check it first as it may be ss. Otherwise order an all oak one. Not to expensive.

It's definitely aluminum tube inside the wood, I can shave the edge of it with my pocket knife, I just put the wood plugs in for now.

Where would I buy an all wood tap / spigot?

BTW after just a couple weeks in the Balcones keg I sampled a small bit of my whisky and wow it's getting so good already!
It sits on the subwoofer out in the shed, maybe all that classic rock I listen to is helping it age!

nerdybrewer wrote:Where would I buy an all wood tap / spigot?

I'm sure they are available online if you do some looking... Or just whip out your pocket knife and whittle one... Or, better yet, turn one on a lathe... Pick whichever fits your skill set...

Google "wooden bungs and spigots"...

It's funny Rad, I was searching that and wasn't able to find any.
Then after I posted sure enough started finding them all over.
These guys seem to have decent ones at ok prices.
http://www.1000oaksbarrel.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

Would love to do one on a lathe but I don't have one - I could build a lathe and then make a spigot...

nerdybrewer wrote:It's funny Rad, I was searching that and wasn't able to find any.
Then after I posted sure enough started finding them all over.
These guys seem to have decent ones at ok prices.
http://www.1000oaksbarrel.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

Would love to do one on a lathe but I don't have one - I could build a lathe and then make a spigot...

It'd funny how this hobby seems to lead to so many others. :p

This brings up a question that occurred to me when I went to taste a small amount out of my barrel.
I've got 65% whisky in the thing, so what's a good way to get some out that's ethanol safe?
I just turned the barrel until a little dribbled out into my jar, that's definitely not the best way.
I don't have a PTFE siphon hose (don't know if anyone even makes them).
Clearly I don't have a spigot yet and wouldn't just be leaving one in the keg anyway as that would lead to a lot of tasting...
Can't use vinyl tubing, that's a no no with higher proof alcohol.
Guess I could use a small piece of copper or stainless steel tubing.
Is there something made for this purpose?

I have a SS basting tube from wally world...sucks out an ounce or two.

There is a supplier for the PTFE tubing. Give me a bit and I will post the link. Have to find it.

DAD300 wrote:I have a SS basting tube from wally world...sucks out an ounce or two.

+1 I also use this method and it works great.

SS basting tool. Didn't know they were out there.
I will look for one, thanks!

I use a glass wine thief that bought at my local homebrew shop.

I've been known to use a copper wine thief... We all have extra copper kicking around, don't we...??? SS would also work...

Damnit, I have a all wooden barrel tap and no barrel. I will fix that soon.

rockchucker22 wrote:http://store.kombuchakamp.com/Brew-Safe ... ining.html

Looks like glues cork to me rock, I could be wrong tho.

Here's the link to the certified PTFE tubing. I will be placing an order soon, if anyone wanted to go in on some to cut costs I'm open to the idea.

https://www.gvc.net/p/3424/size-516od-through-12od" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow