Anyone tried a European oak barrel

[Anavrin]

Hi Guys

There's loads of small oak barrels on eBay ranging from 1 litre to around 20 litres, they're all new and claim to be already charred on the inside for ageing spirits, I'm toying with the idea of getting a 20 litre one to fill with a double distilled all grain batch and forget about for a few years.

Hopefully get a whiskey, just wondered if anyone's used one?


On a side note : does anyone know if ageing port should be done in a charred oak barrel or an un-charred barrel?

[Easydrinker]

No,
and no,but guessing uncharred for port.
Someone like AT will no doubt be along soon with experience to share.
I am almost as anxious as yourself to learn.
Robert.

[chill]

I am pretty sure that you would get a different flavour profile than when using American White Oak, but I don't see why it would not be good. Cognac, for example, uses French Oak (http://blog.cognac-expert.com/oak-barre ... -limousin/). As I recall, it is rather delicious.


Chuck

[Admiral Toad]

Yup I've been using new European 5&10 litre barrels with good results some are on third use
Maturing takes longer in reused ones but expect decent results after 6 months
I pre charge them with sweet sherry port or wine for a few weeks not filled say a good half bottle and slosh around and turn every now and then
I also put a few ounces of charred jack Daniels smoking chips too
You do lose a fair bit with evaporation I find but worth it for the result

[Anavrin]

Cheers guys, I might get one when the pennies allow, I doubt I'd need more than 10 litres but it's only about £25 more to get the 20 litre version, so can't make my mind up

[Admiral Toad]

It's all about surface area to volume ratio
The smaller the volume the quicker the maturation
Remember it needs at least 3years in boubon full size barrels to make the base for cheap blended whisky
It's not a linear relationship however so I suspect 20 litres would need at least 9 months

[Fil]

Ive been eyeing up the oak barrels on ebay,
there is a US seller elguedo selling barrels too who i emailed and he replied confirming that his are made from the lauded White Oak!!...

Thank you for your interest in our barrels Phil. All of our oak barrels are
made from American white oak. All of the barrels that you see on ebay and
online are made from white oak. We offer the best prices and service. Thank
you.

prices dont seem to bad before the vat on import.. 2 x 20l
http://www.ebay.com/itm/OAK-BARRELS-TWO ... TQ:US:1123

tho buying last week would have been cheaper..

also buying individually may cost less on vat i dunno what the threashold for vat charges on import are?

[Easydrinker]

If you're ordering or sending purchased goods (other than alcohol and tobacco) to the UK from another EU country then it's just like shopping in the UK:

there is no Customs Duty payable
there is no import VAT payable, unless you're ordering or sending purchased goods from one of the EU 'Special Territories' and if the value of the goods is £15 or more, however from 1 April 2012 all merchandise sent to the UK from the Channel Islands is subject to VAT -
there is no Excise Duty to pay



If you order or purchase goods other than alcohol, tobacco, perfume and toilet water from a country outside the EU then you have to pay:

Customs Duty on goods with a value that exceeds £135
import VAT on goods with a value that exceeds £15

Note that on all goods from outside the EU, Customs Duty is waived if the amount of duty calculated is £9 or under.

HTH.
Robert.

[Admiral Toad]

These are the ones I have been using

https://www.thebarrelmakers.co.uk/depar ... wine_vats/


Mail order or cash on collection which is a bit cheaper if you are anywhere near Gateshead

I seal the hole where the tap goes and holesaw out top hole to take a standard demijohn cork easier to fill and pit woodchips in etc

[Anavrin]

Cheers AT

Are these barrels charred on the inside do you know?

I've been looking but it doesn't say.