Small Barrel Aging

Draygon · Post by **Draygon** » Wed Nov 14, 2018 9:44 am

I was wondering what people thought of a 1 gallon barrel? I recently purchased one and was thinking of letting my bourbon mash age for about 7 weeks but I dont know if this is too long, or to short given the surface area, etc.

Would this be a good length or should I look at shorter/longer time period?

Post by **Fiddleford** » Wed Nov 14, 2018 10:17 am

Put up a picture of it (if you can), I'm skeptical of newer smaller barrels and spirits.
I see alot of people trying at being coopers but use glues and adhesives to keep things together
They will also stain the outside of it to make it look "warmer" with a none consumption safe agent

Draygon · Post by **Draygon** » Wed Nov 14, 2018 11:04 am

Here is the barrel I purchased and by weight and feel Id say it is pretty legit, I have a 5 gallon barrel Ive used previously for aging beer, now souring beer so I compared them.

Ive read 30-40 days per Gallon to rest in the barrel, but then not sure how long the aging process would take once its in glass.

The other question I am having is proofing it down to say 125 before putting it in the barrel and then furhter proofing it to 80 or so once I get it out....

6 Row Joe · Post by **6 Row Joe** » Wed Nov 14, 2018 11:18 am

120-124 proof is optimal.

Post by **OtisT** » Thu Nov 15, 2018 10:50 am

I have a similar barrel, toasted/charred, holds 5 liters which is just under 2 gallons. I believe the wall thickness is 1/2” or less. For its first use, I put a batch of honey bear bourbon in it for 7 weeks. What came out was the same spirit smell/taste with plenty of oak and some char added. So I would call it oaked but not aged.

I put that oaked spirit into a badmo barrel and it started smelling good at about three months in that barrel, and I pulled it at 11 months.

Otis

Post by **bluefish_dist** » Thu Nov 15, 2018 12:04 pm

I have found oaking and aging(maturity) are not the same. You have to match the barrel to the spirit to get a good finished product.

Hellbilly13 · Post by **Hellbilly13** » Wed Dec 26, 2018 7:21 am

I just bottled some UJSSM that I had in a new 5L barrel from Oak Barrels Ltd. for 10 1/2 months. I would not say that it is over oaked at all. It went in at 118 proof. To my taste it is excellent drink; I’ll get some feedback from friends this weekend.

On the other hand, I put some rum in a 2L new barrel from the same place and pulled it after a few months. I was afraid I had ruined it; it was super dark and tasted like straight wood. After 8 more months in glass, it is very good as well.

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