I have a Woody

[WoodyD40]

The son went and bought me a brand new 5 litre oak barrel for father's Day. He bought one for himself too.

I'll be putting RUM into his barrel, and scotch into my barrel within the next 2 or 3 weeks. Just need to get some water into them to swell them to ensure the will hold the precious drinks.

[The Stig]

Lucky you

[BUCKET]

Nice , do you know where your son bought them from ?

[howard]

The son went and bought me a brand new 5 litre oak barrel for father's Day. He bought one for himself too.

I'll be putting RUM into his barrel, and scotch into my barrel within the next 2 or 3 weeks. Just need to get some water into them to swell them to ensure the will hold the precious drinks.

they look the same as sold by kegland and some HBS.
i've got a few, they seal easy enough with hot water most of the time.
if not, shave some wax off the block and melt into the barrel with a heat gun.
i've taken out all the plastic fittings off the top and drilled the thread out.
i have sealed them with corks from HIDs prosecco bottles, but these are hard to remove without breaking.
i now have solid silicone bungs in there at the moment, but i'm looking for suitable EPDM/neoprene/butyl bungs

[WoodyD40]

Howard is correct.
Son bought them from kegland.

His barrel filled with hot water and no leaks at all. Awesome.

Then did hot water in mine. Fail. Huge leak.
36 hours later, I emptied and refilled with hot water again. Still leaked. Grrrr
Next morning, emptied and refilled for a 3rd time. Finally no leak.

And by hot water, i mean boiling water from the kettle.

Here is a photo after the 2nd filling. Leaking at rear.

[Coastie]

Hey Woody how did your barrel go? I’m interested to hear reviews on the 5L barrels after holding white spirit and for how long you left it before the magic happens. I obviously have some concerns around time and over oaking that I’m reading a lot about but wanted some real world experience.

[Wellsy]

Morning Coastie

I have had one of these for 2 years now, I finish my 50 ltr kegs and stave product in this. I decant into the 10 ltr barrell for a 2 months or three, take out 5 litres and add 5 to replace and dilute what I took out and drink it.

At first I was taking a couple of litres out every couple of weeks as I was worried but it has not been an issue for me. I write dates etc in a book so I don’t have to remember. In the initial month there is a burst of reaction but that lessons over time. Now it is nicely cured and ready to be drained of bourbon and a nice all grain whiskey added to sit for a few years.

The angels will take a sip over time which does not happen in the stainless or glass jars but they are not too greedy. All in all I am pleased with how the 10 ltr one works for me when I keep it filled.