Homemade oak sticks

[Virandell]

Hi I am living in Scotland so I have plenty of barrels and staves from sherry and whisky. So I decided to make some toasted Oak staves on my own, I made a medium toast 180C for 2h in aluminium foil and heavy toast 220C for 2h
However medium one I think looking perfect the heavy one looking abit black to me, I am abit worried about acrid flavours what do you think guys ?
I am thinking to stick one stave in sugar wash and see if theres any off flavours.
Also for how long roughly are you charging your oak ? Just until the oak glow ?

[8Ball]

They look good to me. I’d put a char on some of the dark ones and use for bourbon.

[Virandell]

@8ball that's good then I been thinking to char them aswell. For how long should I char them just untill they glow or to specific depth ?

[8Ball]

Make a little stack. Put some wood shavings in the stack. Pour a little high proof alcohol on them and light. Once you have them burning good, toss them in a bucket of water. Let them soak overnight. Next day, place them in the sun and dry them out. Done.

[River Rat]

Looks good Virandell. You should use them like 8ball said and explore the differences between the two. I make sticks out of bourbon barrel staves and the sweet spot for me is 400 F, or 204 C for about 2 hours. Toasting at higher temps for shorter time can give you different levels of toast approaching the center of the stick too, which can offer different flavors. Der Wo made some posts about that. The possibilities are endless!

[Virandell]

Thanks alot guys so I made slightly higher temperature mine been 428f for 2h.
@8ball that's what I will do thanks alot buddy

[dieselduo]

Here's a video on how to char

[jonnys_spirit]

@ 8ball. I really like the idea of using high proof etoh to get it going. Nice full circle.

[8Ball]

@ 8ball. I really like the idea of using high proof etoh to get it going. Nice full circle.

I use my fores. Make a little tic tac toe like stack with shavings in the center. Light it and just get it burning good. I use bbq tongs to help reposition and get an even burn. Easy & simple and you get to watch a nice blue flame.

[Rum Agol]

Hi Virandell I am also in Scotland and use whiskey barrel staves. As most whiskey barrels are ex bourbon casks they will already have been charred before filling and then probably re- toasted by the cooperage/distillery here. It looks from your photo that the dark ones on the left are like that, the ones on the left look more like wine or sherry staves and the wood looks fresher ie not toasted. You could use 8balls suggestion on the sherry staves but I usually just plane my whiskey staves to clean wood an use them as is in my rum.