StillSmart

Hi guys, knew i would have to ask questions sooner or later, just need some some advice on this.

White Oak Whisky Barrel Staves

quote from the barrelmakers/manufacturer:

Our ex Whisky barrel staves are made from top grade quarter sawn American white Oak being tight grain , knot free and seasoned by air drying in the open air for eighteen months to two years. These staves are approxiamatley 35" (88cm) long and about 1" (2.5cm) thick and are of various widths. Staves are bowed with a taper along there length, whisky staves are charred on the inside.

Customers make beautiful chairs, benches,tables etc with these vintage staves.

These staves are sold in bundles of 12 staves


They cost £34.95 would they be ok if i planed/sanded down and cut to chunk sizes? maybe toasted and charred. The word 'vintage' incited me to ask.
any thought?
cheers B_D


ps I would post a pic. but i'm not sure of the forum code for postimage. or has privilages got to be endorsed?

American White Oak is used in the making of Bourbon and can only be used once by law.

Provided there is no rot in the wood you can soak the wood from these staves in White Dog and it will re-constitute and extract the Whisky that was in barrels when in use. You'll be surprised how well this works

However, you cannot simply toast this wood as it was already toasted and charred in the original barrels it came from. The only way you might be able to toast some of the Oak would be if you can split the staves lengthways. Split off half of the wood thickness from the inside of the stave then sand the outside down to clean bare wood. You can then treat this as virgin American White Oak.

The half split from the inside can be treated as above with clean White Dog to resurrect and extract the original contents of the barrel. Best of both worlds

Personally, I buy virgin American White Oak from a specialist timber supplier. I cut it, season it, wash it and toast it before using in my Whisky. This process takes 18 months from when I buy the wood to when I can first put any spirit near it.

So, if you can get a shorter way of getting there - take it

AM

Thanks for insight Aidan, might do what you suggest ie: splitting and cleaning the staves, provided there is no rot. fortunate enough that the place is not too far from me, so i'll go have a look before i buy.

cheers B_D

Don't forget to post back here. I'd be very interested in a supply from your part of the UK as I'll be over there in the car in the next month or two and if it's good and the price is right I can fill the boot of the car while I'm over there.

AM

aidanmac wrote:Don't forget to post back here. I'd be very interested in a supply from your part of the UK as I'll be over there in the car in the next month or two and if it's good and the price is right I can fill the boot of the car while I'm over there.

AM

Gladly Aidan, as soon as i check it out i will post the verdict,
cheers B_D

Friend,I have been chopping up and planing down old (whisky) barrel staves and using for ageing my spirits for a while now.
The "retired" barrels arrived here 15 years ago,and have stood outside since.
Once planed you can smell the whisky in the wood.
The theoretical lifespan for a barrel,broken down and re-built on Islay is in excess of 150 years,I believe.
The good is in the wood.
Robert.

Bloody hell, this is bringing tears to my eyes!

Blue_Duck wrote:Gladly Aidan, as soon as i check it out i will post the verdict, cheers B_D

How'd you get on with this BD?

AM

How'd you get on with this BD?

AM

Sorry Aidan just noticed this,well the truth iv'e done nothing about it yet as all stillin activity is very minimal at the moment. School hols =granda's busy heres the link to the site have a judge for yourself.


https://www.thebarrelmakers.co.uk/produ ... el_staves/


cheers B_D