What Woods can be used for barrels?

The main wood species used for making barrels is oak, but in particular cases also acacia, chestnut, cherry and mulberry.

Can any wood be used for wine barrels?

Other wood barrels used for aging whiskey and wine are hickory and maple wood, French oak, redwood, walnut, cherry, and chestnut. Some Asian beverages use Japanese cedar, which adds an unusual, minty-piny flavor.

What is the best wood for a wine barrel?

Oak
Oak is the gold standard when it comes to making wine barrels. However, not all oak is the same. Most of the wood used to make wine barrels comes from two countries: the United States and France.

Are wine barrels always oak?

The short answer is yes, most wines are aged in barrels. However, some may not be the traditional oak ones you picture in your head. Many white wines are aged in stainless steel and there are even other types of barrels you probably have never heard of.

Why use white oak for barrels?

White oak’s cellular structure allows small amounts of oxygen to permeate barrel staves and diffuse its contents. Chemical reactions help soften tannins from the wood and stabilize color of the liquid. Charring and curing the oak before construction also imparts aroma and flavor.

Why is white oak used for wine barrels?

How long do oak wine barrels last?

Oak Barrels Can Be Used for Upwards of 100 Years It’s perfectly okay if a winemaker is using oak barrels, after all, they last for up to 100 years. Using oak barrels to store wine is great because forests are a renewable resource.

How do you keep a whiskey barrel from falling apart?

Screw rings into the barrel To keep it tight, simply insert tap screws through the rings into the staves all the way around.

Why are wine barrels so expensive?

If wine aged in oak barrels sounds appealing to you, you can expect to pay more for that bottle. One of the reasons that oak barrels are so expensive is that only two of them can be created from an 80-year-old oak tree. French oak barrels are more desired than American oak barrels because they cost almost double.

What type of oak is used for wine barrels?

American Oak. First, let’s look at the different types of Oak used to make barrels. The most common types are American Oak (Quercus alba) and French Oak (Quercus robur/Quercus petraea/Quercus sessiliflora). American Oak has a looser grain and imparts very robust flavors such as coconut, dill, and vanilla.

What type of oak is used for barrels?

Quercus robur, also known as Limousin oak, has a long history of aging Cognac in France, where it has been a traditional choice for centuries. American oak is a traditional choice for whiskey barrels. However, both American oak and French oak are important to the spirits industry.

What type of oak are wine barrels made of?

There are two predominant species of oak used for making barrels – French (or European) white oak, Quercus petrea, and American white oak, Quercus alba.

How do you waterproof a wine barrel?

Waterproofing wine barrels is done by soaking the barrel in cold water and rinsing it out a few times a day. In some instances, with relatively dry barrels, the water is kept inside the barrels for a few days at a time. But ensure to add clean water every second day as mold can develop with dirty water.

Are wine barrels waterproof?

Liner Wine barrels are naturally designed to hold water, so leaks are significantly reduced when they are installed. You may, however, damage this water-sealed system if you cut two wine casks. The water will leak out if this is done.

Can whiskey barrels rot?

Since bourbon barrels are made from American white oak, they are fairly rot-resistant and last many years. However, the wood can decay due to environmental factors, such as sunlight, rain, and moisture.

What kind of stain do you use on a wine barrel?

“Wine-Red” Barrel Stain from Diproma Viti in France is a very attractive, high protection wood stain which helps you mask and limit wine mess around your barrel bung hole and sides. It is aroma-free, food safe, and easy to clean up.

How much do oak wine barrels cost?

An oak barrel can range in price from $900 all the way up to $2,000 depending on if it is made from American Oak or French Oak. An oak barrel will only continue to give your wine that oak flavor for, at most, 8 fills. Over the course of 30 years you can spend, at least, $4,500 replacing that barrel.

How much does an empty barrel cost?

How Much Does An Empty Whiskey Barrel Cost? It costs about $149 to $229 for whiskey and bourbon barrels, depending on their quality.