FAQS
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FAQs. General Information
The number of times you will be able to reuse your barrel will depend on a few factors. You might find a single barrel will produce 3 or 4 great batches of whiskey or 8 batches of tequila.
The barrel will lose a bit if its effectiveness with over time. If you prefer a strong oak character with each batch you might need to replace your barrel after just a few uses.
Properly caring for your barrel will help to extend its life.
Wood is a porous material so your Urban Barrel will absorb flavours from every batch (this is known as “the Devil’s cut”). For example, when you age whisky in an oak barrel, some of its flavour will carry over to your next batch.
Whether it’s a good thing or a bad thing, that’s up to you and your taste buds to decide.
You might prefer using separate oak barrels for each type of spirit. But we think one of the joys of barrel-aging at home is the ability to experiment with different flavour combinations to end up with something that’s all your own. Just keep in mind that no two batches are the same.
Regular cleaning will reduce your barrel’s lifespan. Unless you’re switching to a completely different flavour profile for your next batch, just rinse out your barrel until the water runs clear. After that, you’re ready to re-cure and start the aging process again.
A well-cured barrel makes it easy to just wipe off any spills. But some liquor can stain the wood exterior—even a colourless high-proof spirit like vodka, which can leave a white discolouration.
Some stains may be removed by wiping the wood down with linseed or a wood-finishing oil, which will also restore the original shine.
For an additional cost, you can also add a varnish to some of our oak barrels to extend that pristine, “new wood” look.
Our proudly Canadian cooperage is located in Carp, Ont., where we craft all our 5- and 53-gallon barrels out of Quercus alba, American white oak.
Our goal is to provide you with 100% made-in-Canada barrels and we’re working on it. In the meantime, we’re working with multiple suppliers and manufacturers in Canada, the United States and Mexico to get you what you need — and fast. Depending on the barrel size and type (e.g. bourbon barrels), and if the demand is high, we may source your barrel from our team of cooperages in North America to get you barrel aging in no time.
Toasting is a slower process. It involves gently heating the barrel’s interior over an open flame so that the heat penetrates deep into the wood, which takes on a dark brown colour as it mellows.
Charring gives your barrel a burnt interior, like a campfire log after the fire. The carbon in the ash is the filter that takes the edge off your liquor.
Check out this blog post about the difference between toasting and charring an oak barrel to learn more!
Engraving
1. Engraving & Quality
Engraving is done using a laser machine but the actual engraving look and feel may vary from barrel to barrel because of changes in the oak wood surface between barrels. Some engravings may appear darker or lighter even if the same laser settings were used.
2. Engraving size
3. Proof of engraving
We will only send proof of engraving before shipping if requested by the customer at the time of ordering or if we have concerns about the artwork provided for engraving. On all other cases no proof will be emailed.
4. File types for engraving
While we accept most file types (PNG, JPG, GIF, PDF) for engraving, the best artwork to use is a vector graphic. See below for examples of
great designs.
We offer shipping throughout USA and Canada.
Faulty barrels and/or parts that are covered under the manufacturer’s warranty will be replaced at no extra cost.
Manufacturer’s Limited Warranty
- Barrel will not seal due to cracks or holes in the wood. Barrel must first be left to cure for at least five (5) days in order to determine if in fact it won’t seal;
- Spigot, bung or stand arrive broken or if spigot leaks when added to the barrel;
- Barrel hoops break during curing process;
– Engraving incorrect logo or name on the barrel, provided engraving instructions were properly submitted by the customer;
Conditions not covered under the manufacturer’s limited warranty:
- Barrels are not made to withstand pressure other than in normal use. If the barrel is filled with contents that build up pressure causing the barrel staves or head to bend, bulge or pop and result in leaks, it will not be covered under the manufacturer’s limited warranty.
- Barrels incorrectly stored without water for long periods of time, causing the oak to dry and shrink and/or the hoops to fall off and/or leaks that cannot be sealed.
To process a replacement barrel under the manufacturer’s limited warranty, we require you to email us a picture of the issue at info@urbanbarrel.ca
