12 Surprising Facts You Must Know About Used Oak Barrels

An oak barrel has been traditionally used not just to store wines but also to ferment them. Oak is not neutral in nature and imparts a distinct flavor to the wine, whiskey, or bourbon stored in it. Wooden barrels made from oak are a great option to consider if you want to ferment or store wine.

Before you start using wine oak barrels, you must understand more about them. We have a list of twelve interesting and surprising facts about used wine barrels. These facts will help you understand more about oak barrels so you can use them effectively.

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Used Oak Barrels – Facts That You Didn’t Know!

1) The Romans and the Celts started using oak barrels.

The use of an oak aging barrel started during Roman times. Wine used to be stored in amphorae or clay vessels. While being transported during the Roman military expeditions, these clay vessels would shatter easily. Thus, the Romans decided to start using oak wood barrel to transport wine.

They also found that storing wine in oak barrels enhanced its taste. This is how the use of oak barrels started. It is believed that the ideal of oak barrels was first conceived by the Celts. The Romans are believed to have stolen the idea from the Celts during their conquests in the region.

2) Traditionally, two types of oaks are used.

When you buy an oak barrel to store wine, its source can be American or European. The French oak used to make an oak barrel for aging liquor would come from trees 80 or 120 years old. One tree produces just two barrels since only 25% of the tree wood can be used. The flavor of the wine stored is full, with an intense aroma.

American white oak trees grow faster than European trees. They are ready to be turned into oak wood wine barrels after around 70 years. The used whiskey barrels made from American oak created a mellow and finer aroma. American oak is more economical to use than European.

3) Coopers are the ones who make barrels.

The bourbon oak barrels that you use are made by ‘coopers.’ The person who makes barrels is called a cooper. A master cooper oversees the work while apprentices need to learn for 5+ years before they can make barrels by themselves. Interestingly, people with the surname ‘Cooper’ are probably descendants of winemakers or distillers.

4) There are laws governing their reuse.

In the USA, you can use a bourbon oak barrel only once. This is why used bourbon barrels are available for sale and used to make whiskey. An interesting fact is that 90% of whiskey is made from used bourbon barrels.

5) Small barrels help to age liquor faster.

When you are buying used wine barrels, you can consider buying a smaller barrel. The size of the barrel has an effect on the time taken by the contents to absorb the flavor from the oak. Larger barrels can take a very long time. The barrels that are smaller in size age quicker, allowing you to have the whiskey ready for use quickly. This is because smaller barrels have a higher surface area to volume ratio.

6) Oak barrels make wine more palatable.

When you use an oak barrel to store wine, it does a lot of things to enhance the flavor and taste of the wine. Firstly, it brings oxygen into the wine. Secondly, substances like vanillin, ferulic acid, 4-ethyl alcohol, etc., are introduced into the wine. These substances add a distinct flavor and enhance the quality of wine stored in oak barrels.

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7) Do you know how long you can reuse barrels?

Used oak barrels are popular since you can reuse them for a long time. A surprising fact that you would probably not know is that you can reuse these barrels for up to 100 years! As the oak ages, it produces a more distinctive effect on the stored spirit.

8) There is a reason for the shape of the barrels.

There is a good reason why oak barrels are shaped in a particular way. Carrying oak wood whiskey barrels is difficult because of the weight. The shape allows the barrels to be rolled while transporting. This makes it convenient to ship them. At the same time, when placed upright, the barrels stay in position.

9) Scotch requires three years to age.

For a whiskey to be considered Scotch whiskey, it needs to be aged for three years. In Scotland, this norm is strictly followed. Only after aging for three years is it termed Scotch whiskey.

10) Have you heard about the angel’s share?

Around 2 to 5 percent of the wine stored in a barrel disappears. This is due to the natural process of evaporation. The ‘angel’s share’ is more for barrels smaller in size. Smaller barrels age faster, but they also tend to evaporate a higher percentage of their contents. The evaporation is not exactly a loss because it helps in reducing the potency of the stored spirit.

11) Barrels are not completely watertight.

A surprising fact about oak barrels is that they are not 100% watertight. Barrels that reach the average user is not fully watertight. The process of curing where they are soaked in water for many days makes the barrels watertight.

12) Barrels need to be seasoned.

Barrels need to be dried before they are ready for use. Once the wood is cut from the trees, it will contain moisture. This moisture needs to be removed before the wood is ready to become a barrel. The removal of moisture is done through drying or seasoning. This process is known as seasoning.

Around 18 months of seasoning is required before the wood is ready to be made into a barrel. This ensures harsh tannins are removed, so the oak does its job well.

If you are looking for oak wine barrels for sale or oak whiskey barrels for sale, then you can get them from a reliable source like the Rocky Mountain Barrel Company.