Thread: Scotch/whiskey of the day

Well because they leak like a sieve if you don't.

Originally Posted by HARRYWALLY

Well because they leak like a sieve if you don't.

Well with the mass produced barrels that's more than likely very true.

However if a Master had made the barrels they probably wouldn't leak from the start.

This is rather long but I have watched it time and time again. I hope all will enjoy seeing how it can be done. If you get bored, just go to the end and see the proof in the pudding.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GE7QA1chUzw

You guys are talking my language now. A fast way to oak some "clear liquor" is toasted oak chips. 2 cups of Jack Daniels oak barrel chips toasted and 1/4 cup of maple in a half gallon for a month or so will give amazing results. I will try to post some pics later. I have also found it pulls more color and taste at over 110 proof to 125 proof. Slower at 100 proof.

On making your own toasting chips: roast it at 375 ti 400 F for an hour, then take a torch and toast/char it light, medium, or heavy.

This is fun.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNh50-r6ris

Originally Posted by ScottGoodman

You guys are talking my language now. A fast way to oak some "clear liquor" is toasted oak chips. 2 cups of Jack Daniels oak barrel chips toasted and 1/4 cup of maple in a half gallon for a month or so will give amazing results. I will try to post some pics later. I have also found it pulls more color and taste at over 110 proof to 125 proof. Slower at 100 proof.

I wish I could have found some higher proof fuel, but 100 was the highest. I've watched some vids on guys oaking. It matches up with what you're doing. I may try it in the future. Wonder if any of these smaller distilleries would hook me up with a few litres of high proof.....

I just looked this up in a book that I have been slowly reading over a few months. Set it down for a few weeks an then read a few more pages....

Bourbon Empire by Reid Mitenbuler.

"Small barrels increase the surface to volume ratio of wood to liquid, speeding up the extraction process by quickly adding color and flavor but shortchange the other parts of the aging process that require more time."

I am not going to look it up now but the distillers got a law changed in their favor that only got them taxed on the final product that came out at the end. Maybe 40 gallons from a 50 gallon barrel.

There is much that gets lost to the angels. [evaporation and leakage etc,]

I am expecting to lose some to angel share.....I just hope not too much.

An update for you guys...if you try the chip method, check your product every day after week 1. I may have over oaked about a gallon. I eill proof it down to 95, maybe that will help.

Originally Posted by HARRYWALLY

I've read that too Roy. You can actually buy char'd oak spirals on amazon and other sites for that very thing. But you could literally take some clean, scrap oak and giver a roast with a torch to achieve the same.

I can hardly wait to take my first nip at this barrel in a few weeks!!!

Check it EVERY WEEK. I think my brother went three weeks before it was "good enough".