re-barrel

[razerburnt]

About a year and a half ago I purchased a new 10 liter charred oak barrel to put some extra age on some bourbon, mostly for fun to see what happens. I used a 5 to 2 ratio of WT101 and EW black and let it sit for 6 months. turned out great imho. My question is this, I didnt really pay attention until last nite but the barrel looks to have a satin finish of some sort. should that negatively affect the contents? the company sells these for the purpose of storing spirits. any feedback from the vast knowledge base of SB would be greatly appreciated. Randy.

[Gillman]

It sounds like the barrel was varnished perhaps. Presumably this was done in a way not to affect maturation in the keg. If the varnish acted as a seal, I think the keg wouldn't "breathe" in the way said to occur in the rickhouses. However even if that is the case, just being stored in a char-lined environment, and factoring that some air is in the barrel and working it, should improve the whiskey.

Gary

[razerburnt]

Thanks Gary, if anyone would know, you sure would!

Randy.

[Rughi]

Really small barrels often have some sort of varnish because they are meant primarily as decorative pieces indoors, but 10 liters is pretty big to be more decorative than functional.

When barrelling wine or beer, there's a fungicide one paints on the exterior that looks like a decoupage or varnish. Could it have been expected by the coopers that their intended market was wine or beer? If so, that's my guess.

Roger

[Gillman]

Thanks but that's a good point there, Roger, about a potential anti-fungal agent, that may explain it.

Gary

[billthewoodguy]

If it is a varnish, would that be like steeling from the angels?

Bill

[billthewoodguy]

any thoughts about simply adding wood to the bottle? perhaps a 5/8" square by as long as can sit from base to neck with about 1/8" of char, white oak of coarse.

Bill

[ACDetroit]

Something very similar going on in a different thread but yes Bill that does also work in quick fashion!

I've had the Dingo Rye Experiment and it really does work.

http://www.straightbourbon.com/forums/showthread.php?t=9144

Tony

[billthewoodguy]

Tony,

Thanks for the heads up.

Bill