Barrels

violentblue · Post by **violentblue** » Thu Dec 20, 2007 12:35 pm

Now I have a charred american white oak barrel, in which I'm trying to age a rum. I cut the heads and I cut the tails, and put it in the barrel.

Now the manufacurer I bought it from varnishes the outside, not to keen on this myself, but would have an effect on the flavor, cuase it was quite mellow, now about a month & 1/2 later its got a sharpness to it.

Post by **Uncle Jesse** » Thu Dec 20, 2007 12:46 pm

Lacquer probably keeps the barrel from "breathing" properly, if nothing else. You might well be leeching lacquer into your distillate but I can't say for sure.

Post by **Husker** » Thu Dec 20, 2007 12:54 pm

I would seriously doubt the laquor goes deep enough to cause problems, and the distillate certainly does not penetrate to the surface of the barrel.

However, I think like UJ mentioned, the breathing of the barrel would be greatly restricted, thus one of the huge functions of barrel aging would not happen properly.

H.

Post by **blanikdog** » Thu Dec 20, 2007 3:32 pm

There was a huge debate on this in another forum and in the end it seemed to be decided that a water stain would be fine to 'pretty up' a couple of barrels. It may well be OK, but why do anything that may stuff up the working of a barrel I say.

I hope that the bloke who was going to proceed with this also comes into this forum.

blanik