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I started this project buying a charred 1 L barrel not realizing small = bad. I filled it with commercial moonshine I got from BevMo and will leave it for 3 months. I then purchased a 5 gallon barrel (6 months aging american whiskey) for my project. I want to fill it with 5 gallons of home made pre-single malt whiskey for aging.

Good idea? Waste of time? Still too small?

I just use 1 gallon glass jugs with a cork and leave it alone in the garage for six months.

tp

Do you put oak dominoes inside?

I put the wood in the likker, not the likker in the wood. That way, I have complete control of the ratio, type, toast, char, etc. and am not just stuck with what an expensive barrel has to offer.

How much wood does 1 gallon need?

http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=50348

Check this thread out

Thank you so much

I age my bourbon in 5 gal barrels for 1 to 1 &1/2 years, or, 1 year in a new barrel then another year in a used barrel. For the 2nd use I age 2 years straight. I use two well used barrels 1 5 gal and 1 10gal for rum. I'm currently making an Irish whiskey that will age in a used 5 gal (previous bourbon). Not sure how long yet bet likely 2-3 years. Keep in mind this aging goes through winter temps as well so this slows the aging a bit. I plan to make a scotch whiskey this year as well which again will go into a used 5 gal bourbon barrel. I rarely age anything less that a year and a half.

DFitz wrote:I age my bourbon in 5 gal barrels for 1 to 1 &1/2 years, or, 1 year in a new barrel then another year in a used barrel. For the 2nd use I age 2 years straight. I use two well used barrels 1 5 gal and 1 10gal for rum. I'm currently making an Irish whiskey that will age in a used 5 gal (previous bourbon). Not sure how long yet bet likely 2-3 years. Keep in mind this aging goes through winter temps as well so this slows the aging a bit. I plan to make a scotch whiskey this year as well which again will go into a used 5 gal bourbon barrel. I rarely age anything less that a year and a half.

I want to be like you basically

I have a used 5 gallon and will likely get a new one too.

Do you hydrate the barrels before filling?

Yes, for the most part. Say I'm filling a used barrel. I fill the barrel with hot water and sink it into a large unused trash bin fill it with water and soak it over night. Next day I dump the can and set the barrel full bung side up for the day to dry out, no leaks makes it good to go. New barrel just a quick fill & check for leaks. I use Gibbs Bros. barrels so I rarely see a drip.

It all takes time and a lot of work to make a good whiskey. Some say you can get the same quality in a jar with a few splits. It's just the way I do it. Lots of work fillin a barrel w/ good cuts.