Thread: Coopering - and rum

Originally Posted by Old Croc

I did see on a video one day that they do a lot of wine/ spirits in stainless steel vats with very thin strips of oak timber suspended in them. This gives it the tannins from the wood without the cost of wood barrels.
Rgds,
Crocy.

You mean something like this?

Originally Posted by Huon pine fan

I saw this video at the Guinness brewery in Dublin some years ago which shows the amazing skills of their coopers.

I watched them making wooden barrels at Guinness about 15 years ago. None were used for stout; all were sold into the French wine industry. The process was similar to but not identical to that in the video.

The staves were already pre-cut with curves sides. Didn't see any use of the draw knife.

Then they chopped the bevels on the sides with that big cleaver - always three strokes on each side.

Then they smoothed the bevels on that sloping double bladed plane. First blade set quite course as scrub plane, second blade set very fine as smoother. Again, always three strokes to each step.

That tightening noose now runs through a pipe and is operated by a hydraulic ram.

Hoops are all preformed and do not have joins - no riveting.

Charring is to order of the customer.

We were absolutely amazed as to how quickly each barrel was made. And so precise with no measurements being taken!

Originally Posted by ErrolFlynn

Very interesting stuff TS. Thanks for taking the time to relate.

And thanks for this note. Next time I'm in a bottle shop I'll look out for it.

Just please for the love of God do not mix it with Coke

For anyone interested in what a major effect barrels have on the end product I highly recommend you try a bottle of an award winning Amrut Peated Indian Single Malt.

This is aged in southern India - and it is a single malt whiskey made in the finest Scottish rations. However - the humid monsoon climate makes magic. notes of molasses, cinnamon, clove you would swear you are drinking a rum blend.

https://www.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3Dgq1a6uWH21U