The article Xavier shared is pretty interesting and well worth the read.
Did they say how long ago it was emptied? Have you had a good look inside the barrel (as good as one can get)? Does it look and smell right? Signs of mold or other infection? Still damp vs dry? I like the idea of wetting the barrel from the outside as the article discusses. We won’t lose any of the flavours inside.
We still need a stand of some sort. Xavier, was it you that had one? If not, it can’t be too hard to build one from spare 2x4s.
We took what was left from the vendor, not much of a choice. We don’t have much more info. We decide to go forward with this barrel since we have no better option short term.
I haven’t open the barrel, i don’t know how for now. I will have more time next week. We can check it out tuesday if you want.
Norm a pris quelques photos. Ce n’était pas facile sortir le bouchon. 1" de bois, solidement installé. L’intérieur est sec, mais semble en bonne condition. Patrick va l’aroser tous les jours en espèrant que ça absorbe un peu d’eau et qu’il soit étanche. On ne voulait pas rempir la barril d’eau et perdre trop de ses qualités. Il a un très agréable odeur de bourbon.
Patrick va aussi aller visiter sa succursale de la SAQ préférée et va acheter une bouteille de bourbon pour mouiller l’intérieur du baril. Et en plus d’arroser le baril, il va laisser des serviettes mouillées sur le dessus du baril pour aider à humidifier le tout.
I’m getting more and more worried that it may not be completely leakproof after reading up online.
Maybe we should fill it with water first to be 100% sure? I’d rather lose some bourbon flavour than beer. And if we add a bottle of bourbon after, we’ll get some of that back.
If we aren’t sure if it will leak, I agree @Norm, we could fill it up and check and the get the water out as soon as it stops leaking or shows that it won’t leak.
Any consensus on filling up the barrel with water today or tomorrow to give it a leak test? Since the stand isn’t there yet, it could be filled halfway while standing upright? Emptied and flipped over and half filled again?
BTW, saw this article from a Cooperage website that says barrel wax is just bee’s wax or parrafin wax. I have a block of bees wax that I can bring friday, just in case. @Norm, if St-Jean is significantly out of your way, then we can potentially use this wax instead.
