Doing it yourself is rewarding and enjoyable with the experimentation of finding what you like. Some people will soak their wood in a wine or port to give different profile to the spirit they are aging. All part of the fun!!
Careful toasting in the house!!
Your house and stove will smell like toasted wood for a long time!!!
Make sure to clean out the stove before (without chemicals) as to not impart food smells or chemicals into the wood. If your stove needs a good cleaning and you need chemicals, do it a week before so you have a chance to burn things off before you toast your wood. then clean with out chemicals right before you toast. im pretty picky with cleanliness and my spirits production.
here is a chart for different flavor profiles. I find that 375 for an hour then 400 for another hour gives me the profile i like.
toastflavorsline.jpg
375 isn't too bad on the smoke but toasting above 400 will create a lot of smoke so find a way to do it outside or you will regret it.
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