Jump to content

Barrel Prep


Ben Randolph

Recommended Posts

Dry barrels, whether new or used, need to be conditioned. They need to be filled with distilled or reverse osmosis filtered water and soaked for 24 hours to let them swell so they won't leak. You don't want to rinse out the barrels because you want all the charcoal to stay adhering to the inner walls.

Are bourbon barrels rinsed between charring and filling?
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Dry barrels, whether new or used, need to be conditioned. They need to be filled with distilled or reverse osmosis filtered water and soaked for 24 hours to let them swell so they won't leak. You don't want to rinse out the barrels because you want all the charcoal to stay adhering to the inner walls.

I was just wondering, how do you fill the dry barrels, let them soak for a day or until all leaks stop then empty it without it being rinsed out?? Coop

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I fill them on their side with a huge funnel in the bunghole which I top off every now and then during the day. When the seem to have stopped leaking I dump them out and let them completely drain, bunghole down, then fill.

I was just wondering, how do you fill the dry barrels, let them soak for a day or until all leaks stop then empty it without it being rinsed out?? Coop
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I think there's a difference between a rinse and a soak. Technically, you could say that while the barrels are soaking, it effectively rinses them out. The same can't be said in terms of a rinse being an effective soak.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...
  • 5 months later...

Does anyone attempt to maintain the condition of new barrels simply through external methods before filling? It was suggested by an owner of a winery to maintain the tightness of the barrels, once received from the cooperage, by covering the head with water and a bit of potassium metabisulfite (I have read that citric acid also works to prevent growths). When the heads dry, flip the barrels and repeat. We have not yet filled any charred barrels yet to verify if the method works, so take my input with a grain of salt.

CFry

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...