WhiskeyPete

I asked about a week after OP posted back in July and never got a response so good luck amigo

Hi JP, you can use spices, etc. if you're going to do a dark rum for the love of god do not use black strap as a sweetener. Use fancy molasses. The difference in grade is night and day.

For your cooker, have you tried a caustic/alkaline solution? I'll do that at 140F and let it sit for awhile beofer conventional cleaning means and a deep rinse. that should eat all your organic matter and soften it up quite a bit.

Hi, is this still available? What was it used for originally? Thanks

Disregarding legal ramifications, leaving the barrel exposed to the raw weather (rain snow, etc.) would ruin wood and I wouldn't be surprised if you lost the contents to weathering damage rather quickly.

Yes, Thank you!

Can you tell us a bit more about the equipment? Still, etc. Thank you