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Preferred methods to remove spirits from barrels?

Posted: Tue Feb 06, 2018 9:05 pm
by butterpants
With spirits coming out of barrels at a possible 45- 60% abv, I'd imagine avoiding acrylic auto siphons is a good thing.... although I don't know at what abv it starts to break down. This would be my preferred method but it's out.

Besides getting some tubing and pulling a siphon off your mouth, what method are you guys using to remove hooch from wood?

I've got 10 and 5 gallon (so, movable) vessels in mind and will be transferring to a stainless corny keg for bottling at a later time.

Re: Preferred methods to remove spirits from barrels?

Posted: Tue Feb 06, 2018 9:57 pm
by BayouShine
I have a 7.5 gallon stainless stock pot that I use to empty barrels. Take the cork out of the bung and set the barrel on top of the pot. Easy peasy.

Re: Preferred methods to remove spirits from barrels?

Posted: Wed Feb 07, 2018 6:21 am
by WIski
These work good. Mine are Oak Leaf brand if I recall correctly.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Stainless- ... 0005.m1851" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

Re: Preferred methods to remove spirits from barrels?

Posted: Wed Feb 07, 2018 6:31 am
by Bushman
I buy 10-20 liter barrels that come with a wooden spigot.

Re: Preferred methods to remove spirits from barrels?

Posted: Wed Feb 07, 2018 7:37 am
by ShineRunner
No spigot? Stainless funnel- I made one out of a stainless bowl. Or big stainless stockpot. My 5 gallon came with a spigot.

There is also PTFE tubing out there- use a stainless racking cane. That would probably be a little less messy..

SR

Re: Preferred methods to remove spirits from barrels?

Posted: Wed Feb 07, 2018 8:15 am
by still_stirrin
A cask without a spigot?

Stand the cask on one end and getcha' a small drill bit (3/8" works good) and drill a hole. Then, you can tip it back over and pour out of the hole. Remember to open the bung so the cask doesn't pull a vacuum. If you're careful with the placement of the hole, you'll be able to drain almost the whole cask.

Then, when empty, fit the hole with a spigot so you're prepared next time. There's lots of options for spigots on the internet...use your search wizardry.
ss

Re: Preferred methods to remove spirits from barrels?

Posted: Wed Feb 07, 2018 8:36 am
by freefall
I am pretty flexible about emptying. I uncork my 5 gal. barrel. Put a jar in the sink. tilt the barrel till it fills the jar. Wipe up the little bit of spillage on the barrel.

Re: Preferred methods to remove spirits from barrels?

Posted: Wed Feb 07, 2018 9:41 am
by cranky
I do the same as BayouShine, 5 gallon stock pot, place my 5 gallon barrel on top, pull bung and turn barrel over.

Re: Preferred methods to remove spirits from barrels?

Posted: Wed Feb 07, 2018 10:45 am
by jonnys_spirit
I use an allinone winepump to xfer, rack, degas, and bottle wine...

https://www.allinonewinepump.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

I wonder if I could use ptfe tubing and stainless steel for liquor?

ptfe is ok?

Cheers,
j

Re: Preferred methods to remove spirits from barrels?

Posted: Thu Feb 08, 2018 11:17 am
by butterpants
WIski wrote:These work good. Mine are Oak Leaf brand if I recall correctly.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Stainless- ... 0005.m1851" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

Did you just core out a big rubber bung and screw this into that? Interesting, thanks!

Re: Preferred methods to remove spirits from barrels?

Posted: Thu Feb 08, 2018 11:19 am
by butterpants
I never though about just dumping the sucker out over a pot. Yea overthinking this. Problem it's 10 gallons and my only big pot is 8. Guess I could just stop halfway.

Gotta use this cask again for some stuff, no extra holes going in it.

Re: Preferred methods to remove spirits from barrels?

Posted: Thu Feb 08, 2018 2:11 pm
by buflowing
I'm anal when it comes to plastics exposure, so this is my method. I pressurize the barrel with an aquarium pump and use a copper tube to deliver the product from the bottom of the barrel to my receiver of choice, usual one gallon jugs. It may take longer than rolling it over and dumping from the bung hole, but it is quite controllable, neat and tidy.

Two hole cork pressed into the bung hole, pressure in one hole, copper tube out the other.

Side note: I don't like spigots in barrels. One more leak point. And noting my aversion above, what is the seal made of? If you want a sample, use a glass or copper thief, or a stainless turkey baster. Piece of cake.

Re: Preferred methods to remove spirits from barrels?

Posted: Thu Feb 08, 2018 7:38 pm
by ShineRunner
butterpants wrote:I never though about just dumping the sucker out over a pot. Yea overthinking this. Problem it's 10 gallons and my only big pot is 8. Guess I could just stop halfway.

Gotta use this cask again for some stuff, no extra holes going in it.
You’ll lose some to the angels too. Not sure how much, but you won’t get anywhere near 10 gallons out. Then again, your 8 gallon pot probably barely holds 8 gallons..

SR

Re: Preferred methods to remove spirits from barrels?

Posted: Thu Feb 08, 2018 11:13 pm
by Oldvine Zin
This is what I use
barrel empty.JPG
Just an oak bung with a copper tube that runs from the bottom of the barrel to the funnel and another short tube to blow into to create a siphon - easy but slow


OVZ

Re: Preferred methods to remove spirits from barrels?

Posted: Sun Feb 11, 2018 4:45 pm
by butterpants
Oldvine Zin wrote:This is what I use
barrel empty.JPG
Just an oak bung with a copper tube that runs from the bottom of the barrel to the funnel and another short tube to blow into to create a siphon - easy but slow


OVZ

That's an interesting idea. Who's barrel is that? I have an identical one and just trying to figure out who made it....secondary reseller doesn't know or won't say.

Re: Preferred methods to remove spirits from barrels?

Posted: Sun Feb 11, 2018 5:24 pm
by RedwoodHillBilly
butterpants wrote:
Oldvine Zin wrote:This is what I use
barrel empty.JPG
Just an oak bung with a copper tube that runs from the bottom of the barrel to the funnel and another short tube to blow into to create a siphon - easy but slow


OVZ

That's an interesting idea. Who's barrel is that? I have an identical one and just trying to figure out who made it....secondary reseller doesn't know or won't say.
That's a 5 gal. Gibbs Brothers barrel. SCC means Sap Clear Charred.

Re: Preferred methods to remove spirits from barrels?

Posted: Sun Feb 11, 2018 5:30 pm
by butterpants
Copy that, thank you Red

Re: Preferred methods to remove spirits from barrels?

Posted: Tue Feb 13, 2018 9:11 pm
by Oldvine Zin
RedwoodHillBilly wrote:
That's a 5 gal. Gibbs Brothers barrel. SCC means Sap Clear Charred.
:thumbup: :thumbup:


OVZ

Re: Preferred methods to remove spirits from barrels?

Posted: Wed Feb 14, 2018 2:21 pm
by rgreen2002
Spigot....?
Spigot....?
Drilled the hole a fraction smaller than the threaded spigot and screwed it in. The swell of the wood kept it watertight...

Re: Preferred methods to remove spirits from barrels?

Posted: Wed Feb 14, 2018 2:41 pm
by Oldvine Zin
rgreen2002 wrote:
Drilled the hole a fraction smaller than the threaded spigot and screwed it in. The swell of the wood kept it watertight...
Too much devils share loss with one of those :D

OVZ

Re: Preferred methods to remove spirits from barrels?

Posted: Wed Feb 14, 2018 3:59 pm
by rgreen2002
Oldvine Zin wrote:
Too much devils share loss with one of those :D

OVZ

Interesting...

I will have to keep my eye on the losses.

Re: Preferred methods to remove spirits from barrels?

Posted: Wed Feb 14, 2018 4:35 pm
by Fruit Squeezer
I preffer a method that uses a tumbler glass full of ice. :lol: