Barrel care/management

[Scrounge]

With the current shortage on barrels, I'm wondering how far in advance of filling I can/should purchase barrels? Can you purchase your years supply of barrels that far in advance? Having not managed any barrels before, I'm not sure if its wise to try and keep them that long before filling with spirits. Can they simply be kept full of water until filling time? I'm waiting on my DSP now, and anticipate filling 2-3 barrels per month. It's hot and dry here in the summer. Barrels are occasionally coming up for sale, and I feel like I should grab some when I can. Thank you for any advice! Scrounge

[TetonDistillery]

You don't want barrels sitting around empty for that long. They will dry out and spring leaks.

The suppliers that I have ordered from seem to be on a quarterly delivery schedule.

However you will need to be on their schedule way in advance of that. Sometimes up to a year in advance.

[Scrounge]

So, filled with water, your good for months? 6 months? Is they're chance of funk developing that could add off flavors? Or would the spirits effectively sterilize. I see sulfuring done in the wine industry, doesn't sound like a good idea for spirits.

[rumfarmer]

Don't leave water in them! You will get some nasty wood slime and extensive cleaning will be required. It isn't that hard to rehydrate a barrel. I have wine barrels that have been sitting for over a year. Just rinse them regularly, if possible. Or, clean them with steam if you have a steam wand. The product I have coming out of these old barrels is amazing and I had to fully rehydrate all of them before use.

[TylerPederson]

I have to concur with smoogdog here, don't leave water in them for more than a couple of days. Do not introduce sulfur to your barrels either. When we get bulk shipments of barrels that we can't use immediately, we keep them outside and turn on a sprinkler every few days to keep them from drying out. If a shipment of sherry casks arrive and the barrels appear too dry to hold liquid, we stand them up and flood the heads with water. We will let it sit until it holds the water and stops leaking from in between the stave joints. Then, flip the cask over and repeat. With a couple of our quarter casks, I was able to rehydrate them pretty quickly by submerging them in a trash can full of water for a day.

[jeffw]

I like the exterior water treatment idea. It had occurred to me but I have never tried it.

[P.T. Wood]

Up here our barrels dry out pretty much immediately, I have had good success using steam initially then hot water. Some of them have seemed almost unsaveable sieves and turned out fine.

Cheers,

P.T.

[Scrounge]

Thanks for the advice gentlemen. I bought a 1/2 gallon barrel and have been playing with it in the kitchen sink. Filled it with water for a few hours and all leaks stopped. After a week the rings fell off when I picked it up. Filled with water again and submerged it too, leaks stopped in a 1/2 day or so. So I'm getting the idea. This little barrel didn't cost 400$ though, don't wanna be screwing up that kind of investment. Sounds like getting them approx. quarterly is the way to go-if you can find them?

[jeffw]

I would say I believe that the barrel market is getting a little easier too, so I don't think you will have to much trouble finding some supply.

[TetonDistillery]

We tried spraying the outside of the barrels occasionally, however that leads to rust on the metal bands.

It likely does keep the barrel hydrated enough to minimize leaks, but expect to have really rusty looking barrels within a few months.

[Craft Distillery Resources]

Best thing is keep the ends of the barrel wet. Twice a week, alternating ends. Soaking barrels takes out too much flavor, and technically if a ttb agent wanted to get picky, after a barrel as been used to hold water, it is no longer a new barrel.