I'm not sure on the science, but I'd think a half full barrel will result in lots of air touching the whiskey, which can cause it to lose flavor. With a full barrel, almost no air touches the whiskey.

Thx again, going to opt for the 5L and 2L for flavored whiskey instead of the 10L

Sorry for all the questions but a few more.

Barrel wax, assuming this is a must?
Cleaning tablets? a must also? and how often do you clean?

Anything else I need to know and need to order when I place order for barrel?

Barrel wax is not a must, unless you see a leak after you "season" the barrel. If it's leaking before the first use, the cooperage should repair or replace for free.

I don't use the tablets. I use citric acid after each time. I put a couple tsp in the barrel, fill with hot water and shake it up. Let it sit for a few hours or overnight and rinse thoroughly.

thx!

How do you "season" it?

I've never used barrel wax and never had a leakage problem. Maybe as the barrels get older it will be a problem, but by then the char will probably be minuscule, so I'll just replace them.

I drop the cleaning tablets in when I am first soaking the barrel, then again if I go too long between batches and keep it filled with water.

"Season" may be the wrong word, more of a "breaking'in". When you get your barrel, you will need to rinse it a few times with warm water to get shavings and pieces of wood and what-not out of it. The put the spigot in the spigot-hole and fill it with hot water. Put the bung in and let it sit. It will probably leak a little, but that's OK. Keep it full. It will stop leaking in a few minutes to a couple days. The wood will swell and seal. Once it stops leaking, dump out the water and put in the booze.

awesome, you guys rock, thx for info! Should I buy buy extra bungs or spigots?

You shouldn't need extras if you are careful. I cracked the spigot on one of mine by hammering it in too hard, but a really tiny C-clamp stopped the leaking.

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I've never used barrel wax and never had a leakage problem. Maybe as the barrels get older it will be a problem, but by then the char will probably be minuscule, so I'll just replace them.

I drop the cleaning tablets in when I am first soaking the barrel, then again if I go too long between batches and keep it filled with water.

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The FAQ at Deep South Barrels suggests taking a lighter to the barrel to add more char

"After two to three years of use, a barrel will need to be re-charred on the inside if it is no longer aging your spirits or wine as quickly. Simply use a butane type lighter with a bendable end to char the barrel. Take the bung and spigot out, put the end of the lighter in the spigot hole, and, while the lighter is lit, turn the barrel slowly to add a fresh char to the barrel."

OK ordered my 5L barrel. coupon code bestbarrels will get you 20% off. Found it on google.

Can't wait!

Sorry, last question, honest! Does the barrel come with the stand? can't tell for sure but assuming it does?

Yep, they come with a stand (from Deep South anyway)

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Question for those that do this.

Love me some whiskey. If I bought the 10L, is it as effective if it isn't filled up when aging? Or would you really need to place 5 handles at a time in there?

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You want to fill to about 80% to 85% of the total volume. I learned the hard way that filling to the top like they do at the distillery doesn't work with these barrels because the staves are not as thick and robust as they are on a 53 gallon barrel and can split if there is too much expansion from heat.

Staying 80% ot 85% full gives you a lot of surface area, but still gives a smidge of room for expansion and contraction of the fluid without putting any stress on the barrel staves. Rotate the barrel every now and then to get those top few staves saturated and you have no problems.

Finally snapped a photo of the 2L.

Just picked up a 2L. Specs carries them, but only the 2L for $50.

What's the average time to stop leaking? Been soaking only 24 hours and I think the leaks are coming to a halt but is definitely still leaking a bit.

website says up to 48 hrs

It could take a few days to get the staves to swell shut. Just give it time, and use hot water.

Aggielax, which specs were you able to pick one up at?

Got it at the Bee Cave store but I've seen them at most of the stores in Austin.

Btw, looks like it has stopped leaking after about 48 hours. Now to decide what to put in it. Was thinking a poor man's pappy but can't find Weller 12.

I'm looking to get into this as well. I've looked at several barrel makers, is there something that makes some worth more than others?

Found these a lot cheaper than places like Deep South, are they going to be significantly different?

http://www.barrelsonline.com

There can likely be a difference in quality. With deep south, you will get good quality and great customer service.

I had my original 2barrels get a couple of cracked staves from me overflowing it. They replaced it for me at no cost, no questions asked.

My barrels. The 2L is newer and has been seasoning with port for a few months before I make a Manhattan in it. I made a mezcal drink that didn't turn out well, and the taste was still there in some Old Fashioneds I made after, so I'm hoping to resurrect this barrel.

The 5L has made 4-5 different drinks this year, and is currently about 3 months in full of Whistlepig 10yr Rye. It is already much darker and smoother. Another month or two and it will be a good sipper.

Just tapped my 2L that has had Four Roses YL aging for 3 months and 1 day. The glass on the left is my barrel aged YL, the glass on the right is from a NASA private selection.

My cheap juice compares.favorAbly to the better NASA barrel. A little more oak and initial spice, but not nearly as good a finish. Will definitely age another handle though.

[URL=http://s43.photobucket.com/user/schmellba99/media/IMG_20141227_193632556_zpspud2znxc.jpg.html][/URL]

How does it compare to a small batch or single barrel? 4 roses single is one of my favorites.

It isnt as good as the NASA single barrel I had to compare, but I never expected it to be either. But it does compare well in my opinon.

I dont have any small batch to compare it to, but I would expect the small batch will be better given that they use specific mashbills for those and the YL is blended.

But for a cheap sipper, i am very pleased with it. It is smooth, has more oak (a good thing for me) than the production, and a touch more spice on the front end than production. I had it neat and liked it very much.

My best results have been with vattings of multiple bourbons, such as the OWA/W12. The barrel seems to help the various flavors mingle in an agreeable fashion.

I also tried it with flavored rum, and that turned out very well. I threw some vanilla beans into a bottle of cheap rum for about a month, added a little orange peel for a couple hours. I strained that into the barrel, and aged it for another month. The time in the barrel really seemed to bring the flavors together, and added a nice touch of oak.

I have rye in the barrel now, for my own Angels Envy rye knockoff.

What rye are you using?

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My best results have been with vattings of multiple bourbons, such as the OWA/W12. The barrel seems to help the various flavors mingle in an agreeable fashion.

I also tried it with flavored rum, and that turned out very well. I threw some vanilla beans into a bottle of cheap rum for about a month, added a little orange peel for a couple hours. I strained that into the barrel, and aged it for another month. The time in the barrel really seemed to bring the flavors together, and added a nice touch of oak.

I have rye in the barrel now, for my own Angels Envy rye knockoff.

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I've had the best results with mid grade bourbons - Maker's, Four Roses YL, Buffalo Trace, etc.

I aged an Elijah Craig 12 for about 6 months and would never do anything like that again because I simply didn't get major results, at least nothing that was holy cow type noticeable.

My next experiment will be with Larceny. It's a good pour to start with (my opinion), but should do well with a few months of additional aging to give it a little more robust flavor.

Picked up a handle of Larceny to put in the 2L barrel and a couple of handles of Four Roses YL to put in the 3L barrel today.

I am set on bourbon for a while.

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What rye are you using?

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I am using a mixture of Willett 4 and 6 yr rye, with a little High West Double Rye to top it off.

Pulled the Honey / Turkey mix yesterday. Turned out great and you can still taste whiskey, and the honey is not at all overpowering. Worked wonders on the sore throat after the bowl game.

Loaded the 2L up with clear rum, vanilla bean, cinnamon stick, and some cloves. Will finish the spices when I pull it out of the barrel.

Finally soaking the 1L with water and have some port wine for the first aging when it is sealed up. Then going to try some bourbon in there for my own Angel's Envy.

I had considered Bulleit in mine, they are all MGP/LDI rye whiskey.

Anybody tried the Slow and Low? Its basically a Old Fashioned in a bottle. Thought it was pretty good. Mom and Pop shop said they were having a hard time keeping it on the shelves, i was looking for Weller 12 which prompted the conversation. Picked it up since it was only 21 bucks.