Red Head Barrels – Personalized Bar Gifts

Whiskey Barrels for Sale | Whiskey’s Most Important Ingredient: The Oak Barrel

What makes a good whiskey? If you were to round up a dozen whiskey enthusiasts from around the world, you would likely get 12 uniquely different answers. They all have one thing in common though, they all agree that whiskey barrels for sale are one of the greatest ways to understand and appreciate whiskey. 

Every whiskey starts with the same raw materials: water, barley and yeast, just like beer. These basic ingredients form the base that is responsible for ensuring the right balance. In fact, the American Distilling Institute points out that beer is a step in the whiskey-making process. Beer is another way to say, “whiskey wash.” In the simplest terms, at the stage of whiskey wash, the liquid could be distilled to make whiskey, or brewed to make beer.

Every whiskey has a story to tell that is uniquely its own, a textured tale that comes together over time as it ages in a whiskey barrel. There are over 600 species of oak trees but it’s the American White Oak that gives whiskey its unique flavor. Just as each American White Oak is its own living entity, every whiskey barrel has a unique compound of flavors consisting of lignin, lactones, and tannins.

Without time in oak barrels, whiskey would remain a fiery clear liquid, without the nutty caramel and vanilla notes we all love. The longer the liquor sits in a whiskey barrel, the smoother the flavor will become.

Anything being aged inside the American oak barrel—be it whiskey, wine or something else—will be influenced by a number of factors:

• Growth rate of the trees
• Method and length of time to dry the wood
• Toasting and charring during cooperage
• The environment inside the barrel
• Compounds in the wood
• Blends from interior charring
• The climate where the barrel is stored

DIY With Whiskey Barrels For Sale

Any whiskey or wine connoisseur knows the difference between a quality drink and one that’s low budget. There are reasons top shelf liquor commands higher prices and one of those reasons is the time it takes to make the better brands. Jameson Irish Whiskey, for example, is barrel aged for a minimum of four years, while Canadian Crown was originally sold as a 10-year aged whiskey.

You can make your own top shelf varieties of whiskey or any kind of liquor, wine or beer by buying empty small whiskey barrels for sale. At Red Head Barrels, we always have new whiskey barrels for sale and sometimes even have a used whiskey barrel for sale. Our oak whiskey barrels come in a variety of sizes—as small as 1 Liter—and will deliver top shelf results in a matter of weeks, not years.

To make your own liquor, you can start with a low-end whiskey or tequila and simply cork it in a new whiskey barrel for several weeks. Our small whiskey barrels are small enough that the surface area encounters more of the liquor inside, accelerating the process.

Another way to make premium liquor in a whiskey barrel is to start with grain alcohol and add a flavor essence made by Red Head Barrels. Here are six easy steps for DIY spirits:

1. Cure your wooden barrel. Curing is necessary to get rid of any bacteria and eliminate any leaks.
2. Fill the barrel about halfway with a neutral-flavored spirit such as vodka or grain alcohol for bourbon, scotch, whiskey, brandy, or vodka essences. If you want to use a rum essence, start with a clear, flavorless rum.
3. Pour your flavor essence into the spirit barrel. Use one bottle of flavor essence for each liter of alcohol.
4. Fill the barrel the rest of the way and place the bung in the hole on top.
5. Avoid the temptation to open the barrel for two weeks.
6. The fun part: taste your liquor. If you like the savor, it’s time to start drinking. If you don’t want the flavor to change, pour the liquor into a bottle. If you would like to age it further, leave it in the barrel for another week, then taste again. Once you have consumed all your alcohol, visit our website to order more essences for next time.

Why Oak Matters When Aging Whiskey (Or Any Spirit)

The American white oak barrel is what accounts for whiskey’s unique flavor profile. Due to its natural strength and durability, the American white oak is also ideal when you’re looking for wooden whiskey barrels for sale. The wood cells of white oak trees contain tyloses that make it waterproof and a large volume of medullary rays that contribute to its strength.

White oak also lets oxygen in, helping diffuse the contents. Chemical reactions change the color and mellow the flavors, just as the charring and curing add different flavor notes and affect the mouthfeel. American oak is denser than French oak and has different lactone levels. American oak also doesn’t have resin canals that can pass along unappealing flavors to maturing spirits.

American White Oak is used at most distilleries and wineries across the United States. After aging whiskey in Tennessee, and bourbon in Kentucky, American oak barrels travel over to Scotland to mature Scotch and Ireland to age whiskey. While in the U.S. whiskey is aged in only new barrels, in Ireland, used barrels are the norm.

At Red Head Barrels, our wooden whiskey barrels for sale are handcrafted by our own coopers using a medium char, which we have found is the most universal for aging spirits. We source our American White Oak from a variety of forests across the continental U.S., including California, Missouri and sometimes Kentucky.

All About The American White Oak & The Cooper

The American white oak—Quercus species—is unique to North America and is one of the most popular species in export markets from American hardwood forests. The white oak classification is the most common species group, accounting for about 33% of the American hardwood resource. The characteristics of white oaks vary depending on the where they’re grown. Southern regions grow faster and produce wood with more open grain and texture than northern regions, which have a longer growth season and produce less sapwood.

The trees are harvested in a sustainable manner that promotes regeneration. For barrel-making purposes, logs are sawed in quarters to produce staves with the maximum strength and leak resistance. This is where the cooper comes in. Coopers are the craftspeople who make the wooden barrels. When it comes to brown spirits especially, the barrel is arguably the single most important step in the production process.

Coopers date to Celtic times and were valued craftsmen in colonial America and throughout our history. The skilled coopers at Red Head Barrels make each barrel by hand and each is as unique as the tree and stave it’s built from.

If you’re looking for whiskey barrels for sale, look no further than Red Head Barrels. Our multigenerational team of professional coopers expertly handcraft our barrels by sanding and tapering the oak staves, so they perfectly fit the hoops without nails or glue. During the assembly process, the barrel is also perfectly fired with a medium char.

Each of our barrels come with a wooden spigot, bung and stand. Our oak aging barrels come in 1 Liter, 2 Liter, 3 Liter, 5 Liter, 10 Liter and 20 Liter sizes. Some of the other barrels we offer:

• Bag-n-Barrels. Pour your own wine into our bags and use our barrel as a beautiful dispenser.
• Ageless Oak Barrels. These barrels are lined on the inside with beeswax, so you can store and dispense the drinks of your choice without changing the flavor.
• Cigar Barrels. Our cigar barrels can be soaked with your favorite liquid to infuse your pipe tobacco, cigar or even a pack of cigarettes.
• Personalized Barrels. Any of our barrels can be engraved for any occasion and make great gifts.
• Decorative Barrels. We have ice buckets, vases and even  man cave decor.

 Anatomy Of A Whiskey Barrel

Although coopering is a complicated craft, the barrel itself is really quite simple and made up of just a few parts. First, long pieces of oak called staves are carefully crafted to make up the body of the barrel. The staves are seasoned outdoors for two or three years and then cut at an angle, arranged in a circle, and carefully bent into shape with the grain running parallel along the length of the barrel.

Timber and steel are typically the only materials allowed in barrel making. Heat and pressure from metal hoops help bend the staves into place. There is no glue or silicone, no nails or screws, only the occasional river reed to help seal the top of the barrel.

Other parts to a wooden whiskey barrel:

• Head. The flat circular top and bottom of the barrel that can be customized in any number of ways.
• Chime. The beveled edge of the barrel made up of the ends of the staves.
• Hoops. Metal parts around the barrel that hold the staves together.
• Bilge. The widest part of the barrel.
• Bung hole. The hole in one of the barrel’s staves used to fill up and empty the barrels.
• Bung. Wooden or silicone stopper used to close hermetically the bung hole.

Benefits Of Barrel Aging Beer And Wine (Or Anything)

Whiskey barrels are most associated with aging whiskey and other brown spirits, but barrel aging is growing in popularity among wine and beer drinkers. Because wooden whiskey barrels are crafted with minimal toasting of the wood, barrel aged wines develop hints of clove, cinnamon and allspice. When sipped, people notice caramel, vanilla and even buttery flavor notes.

While wine is aging in the barrel, the oak slowly imparts its flavors and colors. A white wine will take on a darker yellow; red wine will deepen in hue. In terms of flavors, vanilla is usually most prominent, along with hints of mocha, caramel, toffee and honey.

The surge in craft brewers, particularly India Pale Ales, has made barrel aging beer more popular. Time in the barrel causes the bitterness of hops to softens and malt to intensify. Sherry-like notes develop over time making for a complex and unique flavor.

Sometimes, beer is purposely aged in barrels that once housed wine, rum, whiskey, bourbon, tequila, and other spirits. This not only imparts the unique characters of the oak, but the flavor of what has previously in the barrel.

If you’re looking for whiskey barrels for sale, you might not have considered the many things you can do with that barrel aside age liquor, wine or beer. Foodies, chefs and hobbyists have been experimenting with barrels for years to enhance the flavor of pickles, peppers, condiments, sauces—even ice cream.

Charred barrels produce the best barrel aged food, and a barrel that formerly contained spirits can give you an even more interesting flavor enhancement. Try our specialty barrels:

• Kombucha Barrels. Try a barrel for your next batch of kombucha and you’ll be surprised at how much stronger and tastier it is.
• Pickle & Hot Sauce Barrels. Chefs and gourmands have been elevating the flavors of pickles and hot sauces for years—now you can too.

The Red Head Barrel Difference

Red Head Barrels sells handmade American oak barrels specially designed for aging and mellowing rum, whiskey, bourbon, tequila, brandy, wine, beer and more. Proprietor Steve Mayes—AKA Red—experimented with barrel aging for many years before opening Red Head Oak Barrels in 2013.

A U.S. Navy Veteran, his business philosophy is to over-deliver and give his customers more than they expect. A Baton Rouge native living in Dallas for over 25 years, Red Head Barrels believes in “lagniappe,” an expression in Louisiana that means “a little extra.”

We have a variety of recipes and whiskey making kits, so you can turn ordinary spirits into top shelf liquor for a fraction of the price. Make your own flavored Canadian, Kentucky, Tennessee, or Irish Whiskey, Bourbon, Scotch, Spiced Rums, and more at home for about $10 a fifth.

We have hundreds of 5-star reviews and stand behind every product we make. Call us with any questions you may have at 469-969-0449 or see our website for more information.

All of our Oak Aging Barrels are handcrafted and made of white oak, a standard because of their strength. They also have adequate sugar content and other properties that make them excellent choices for storing and aging tequila, bourbon, rum, wine and whiskeys, besides other types of alcoholic beverages. A multi-generational team of professional expert coopers make our wooden staved vessels by sanding and tapering the oak staves so that they fit the hoops perfectly without nails and glue. The oak whiskey aging barrel is perfectly charred during assembly. This charring process caramelizes the sugar in the wood and this is what gives the stored spirits the caramel character as well as the essence of sweet vanilla. Each oak aging barrels comes with a wooden spigot, a bung, a stand and a medium char.

Make Your Own Whiskey At Home With Our Whiskey Making Kit

If you ever thought about getting make your own whiskey kits but thought it would be too complicated or time consuming, you’re in for a big surprise. At Red Head Barrels we have all the tools you need to become a master distiller right in the comfort of your own home—and it’s super easy to do. Whether you prefer a scotch whiskey making kit or would rather a single malt, rye, or something entirely different, we have whiskey making starter kits to suit your preferences.

The advantage of aging liquor in an oak barrel is that you can start with the least expensive wine, beer, whiskey, tequila, or even vodka, and the magic of the aging process will change the nature of the spirit. Over time, your alcohol will mature with distinct characteristics when you use a whiskey barrel making kit.

Our smaller barrels are specially designed for home distillers and reduce aging time to weeks compared to the years it takes in standard-size barrels. All of our whiskey barrel making kits allow you to see and taste the transformation of your liquor as it ages. Some only need two or four weeks to age while others can take between three and six months. By way of example, Crown Royal will age to Crown Royal Reserve in about two weeks using a 2 liter White American Oak barrel.

Most experts and drinkers agree that spirits move to the top shelf after aging in a barrel and you can experience this yourself when you use a home whiskey making kit from Red Head Barrels. Our whiskey making kits come in a variety of oak barrel sizes and with many types of flavor essences. We even have recipes and instructional videos to help you get a quality batch of liquor every time.

Make Your Own Whiskey Kits Are Fun, Easy, and Attractive

When you picture a distillery, it doesn’t seem like the type of operation that easily scales to the home bar or recreation room for the average hobbyist. But it absolutely does when you use the right whiskey barrel making kit. The whiskey making kits at Red Head Barrels feature White American Oak barrels handmade by our very own in-house coopers, barrel makers dedicated to excellence in this time-honored field.

Our whiskey making kits are not only easy to use, but beautifully handcrafted and compact, ranging in sizes from 1-20 liters. You can even get a personalized whiskey making kit artfully decorated with your family name or business logo on it. We also have barrel head wall hangings, coasters and other decorative items so you can create a barrel-themed bar area for a fun look. Each of our whiskey making kits include:

• 1, 2, 3, 5, 10 or 20 liter American White Oak barrel
• Bung
• Spigot
• Wooden stand
• 3 or more bottles of essence
• Paper funnel
• Complete Instructions

You’ll love the look of having a genuine American white oak barrel on your bar or counter. It’s not only attractive, but is the same wood used at most distilleries and wineries across the United States. Oak is a “pure wood” as opposed to pine or rubber trees which contain resin canals that can pass unappealing strong flavors to maturing spirits. We source our American White Oak from a variety of forests across the continental U.S., including California, Missouri and sometimes Kentucky.

American white oak departs flavor notes consisting of vanilla, caramel and coconut, the strength of which are affected by the char and other factors. At Red Head Oak Barrels, we begin and end with premium quality American White Oak. Our stock is made using a medium char, as we find this to be the most universal for aging spirits. It’s this attention to detail that ensures you’re not only going to get an end result that tastes great, but a process that is suitable for your home.

It’s easy to make your own top shelf liquor when you have a whiskey making kit. At Red Head Barrels, we have a number of flavor essences available as well as resources, recipes and how-to videos. We encourage you to experiment and let your creative muse guide you. Once you get comfortable making your own top shelf whiskey, you’ll be experimenting with cocktails, rum, even vodka and beer.

The Art and Science of Homemade Whiskey Kits

If you were actually a master distiller your whiskey making journey would begin by picking your grain or grains (corn, barley, wheat or rye) and cooking them at a high temperature to release the sugars. From there is gets turned into a mash and fermented, going from a sweet oatmeal mixture to a sour paste to a vapor while being heated in a sill. During that process it’s shocked with a cold water running around it. The vapor rises inside the still and is basically converted back to liquid. The final and longest step is the barrel aging and this is where your clear liquor takes on its color and flavor.

Luckily, you don’t have to go through all that. In fact, the professional whiskey making process is not for the home hobbyist and requires special licensing as well as equipment. But with a whiskey making kit from Red Head Barrels, you can still get top shelf results starting with a grain alcohol, vodka, bottom shelf whiskey, even wine.

All liquor, even the darkest of rums, start out clear. It’s the time in a barrel that brings about the rich amber and caramel colors. If you start out with a clear spirit, you can experience the color-changing process along with the enhancement of flavor notes over time.

Our whiskey making kits include everything you need to make your finest blend of spirits, aged to perfection in a matter of weeks. You can choose from any of our many flavor essences or mix and match to create your own personal blend. Our flavors include:

• Whiskey
• Brandy
• Rum
• Caramel
• Vanilla
• Toasted Oak
• Cinnamon
• Strawberry
• Raspberry

When you have a great whiskey making kit, the process is really straight forward:

1. Cure your wooden barrel. This will allow the oak to expand, eliminate any leaks and retain liquid. Curing is also necessary to get rid of any bacteria.
2. Fill the barrel about halfway with a neutral-flavored spirit such as vodka or grain alcohol.
3. Pour your flavor essence into the spirit barrel. Use one bottle of flavor essence for each liter of alcohol.
4. Fill the barrel the rest of the way and place the bung in the hole on top.
5. Avoid the temptation to open the barrel for two weeks.
6. Taste your liquor. If you like the favor, it’s time to start drinking. If you don’t want the flavor to change, pour the liquor into a bottle. If you would like to age it further, leave it in the barrel for another week, then taste again.

Liquor flavoring essences can be used to add any flavor to a neutral spirit. For example, you can add our best bourbon essence to vodka to produce a delicious aged bourbon in a fraction of the time it would typically take. We also offer scotch, brandy, rum, and whiskey flavor essences.

Our whiskey flavoring and other essences are made from the natural flavors and sugars found in stills before the distillation process, meaning you can flavor your neutral liquors with the natural taste of other liquors for a premium product in a matter of weeks – not months or years.

Curing your barrel is a crucial step because true barrels like ours are held together by pressure, not glue or nails. If you do not cure your barrel, the spigot will be loose and will leak until it swells from the spirit. Since the wood absorbs some of this curing it also helps make certain you lose less liquor the first few uses.

How to Find the Best DIY Whiskey Making Kits for Sale

Whether you are a seasoned spirit aging pro or just starting out, here at Red Head Oak Barrels, we offer a wide range of whiskey making kits and liquor flavoring essences to meet all your needs. We have many varieties of whiskey barrels for sale, from smaller one- and two- liter varieties that fit nicely on a small bar or counter, to sizes up to 20 liters. All of our oak barrels for sale are American-made by hand and can be customized for any occasion.

Our barrels also come infused with flavors, like tequila, rum and whiskey. Instead of curing the barrel with water, we use your choice of spirits. Your infused barrel can then be used to age the spirit, wine or beer of your choice for an interesting variety of flavor notes.

When people picture whiskey barrels for sale, they often envision the standard 53-gallon casks that professional distilleries use. For home use, large is in the range of 20 liters. There are many advantages to going with something smaller, like our two liter barrel. The aging process can be sped up about two to six times, depending on the size of the small barrel, meaning you get your own premium liquor to enjoy that much faster. Some advantages of going small:

• It’s fast. It takes under two months on average to age 750ml of liquor or wine. You can start tasting at 14 days (especially in the beginning) and call it finished when you say so!
• It’s flavorful. The increased proportion of the interior barrel surface area to stored volume makes for strong favor notes of vanilla, spice and oak in a short time.
• It’s flexible. The small volume makes it perfect for experimenting with new flavors and infusions without committing to a large quantity.

Spirits age the same way inside a small oak barrel as they do in a larger barrel—the only difference is time. Aging is simply a chemical reaction between the alcohol, the congeners produced during fermentation, oxidation, and the byproducts of the wooden barrel. These are affected by the alcohol content of the spirit, the level of charring in the oak barrel, humidity, the temperature in the aging area, the size of the barrel, and the length of time that aging takes place.

Anytime you distill a grain you get ethanol; whether it comes from wheat, rye, corn, sugar cane, or potatoes. It is an odorless, colorless alcohol typically at an 80 proof when you purchase at the liquor store. Distilleries will then add their flavorings, herbs and spices to get the taste they want.

Your Red Head Oak barrel can be used more than once to age spirits, but how many times varies depending on the type of liquor being aged. The flavor notes released by the oak decreases with each use. This is a general guideline on how many times barrels can be used before being replaced.

• Tequila: 10 times
• Rum: Seven times
• Whiskey or bourbon: Four times
• Wine: Once

There are many ways to add flavor and improve the taste of liquor. One of the best options is aging them with an authentic Whiskey Making Kit. When you age spirits in oak barrels, they take on flavors from the barrel – such as tannic and vanilla notes – that lend a subtle complexity to the taste of the spirits and can transform even the cheapest liquor on the shelf into a smooth, delicious, premium product. The porous oak aerates the liquor as well, further improving its smoothness and flavor. With a Red Head barrel aging kit, you can create your own high-quality, perfectly aged whiskey, bourbon, or rye in just a few weeks from the convenience and comfort of your own home.

Liquor flavoring essences can be used to add any flavor to a neutral spirit. For example, you can add our best bourbon essence to vodka to produce a delicious aged bourbon in a fraction of the time it would typically take. We also offer scotch, brandy, rum, and whiskey flavor essences. Wondering what is in whiskey essence that makes it able to flavor your liquors so perfectly? Whiskey flavoring and other essences are made from the natural flavors and sugars found in stills before the distillation process, meaning you can flavor your neutral liquors with the natural taste of other liquors for a premium product in a matter of weeks – not months or years.

The Red Head Barrel Difference

Red Head Oak Barrels sells handmade American oak barrels specially designed for aging and mellowing rum, whiskey, bourbon, tequila, brandy, wine, beer and more. Proprietor Steve Mayes—AKA Red—experimented with barrel aging for many years before opening Red Head Oak Barrels in 2013.

A U.S. Navy Veteran, his business philosophy is to over-deliver and give his customers more than they expect. A Baton Rouge native living in Dallas for over 25 years, Red Head Barrels believes in “lagniappe,” an expression in Louisiana that means “a little extra.”

We have a variety of recipes and whiskey making kits so you can turn ordinary spirits into top shelf liquor for a fraction of the price. Make your own flavored Canadian, Kentucky, Tennessee, or Irish Whiskey, Bourbon, Scotch, Spiced Rums, and more at home for about $10 a fifth.

We have hundreds of 5 star reviews and stand behind every product we make. Call us with any questions you may have at 469-969-0449 or see our website for more information.

We have selected some of our most popular gift items and assembled them in several gift packages. These engraved gift packages are perfect for the special person in your life. These gift packages are great for graduations, retirements, birthdays, Christmas, anniversaries, military and much more.

No Other Barrel Company Offers Pre-cured Barrels

Only Red Head Barrels Offers Barrels Cured with your favorite liquor

Embark on a journey of flavor exploration with our small oak aging barrel, meticulously cured with your preferred liquor, offering a unique and customizable aging experience like no other. Crafted with care and precision, each barrel exudes the rich aroma and nuanced flavors of whiskey, rum, tequila, or any spirit of your choosing, infusing your concoctions with depth and complexity. The benefits of our pre-cured oak aging barrel are manifold. Firstly, it eliminates the need for lengthy curing processes, allowing you to dive straight into aging your favorite spirits, cocktails, or even homemade infusions with minimal delay. This instant gratification ensures that you can enjoy the fruits of your labor sooner rather than later. Moreover, the pre-cured barrel imparts a distinct character to your aging concoctions from the get-go, enhancing their flavor profile with the nuances of oak and the chosen liquor. Whether you're infusing bourbon with hints of vanilla and caramel or imbuing tequila with a smoky, agave-rich depth, the results are bound to impress even the most discerning palates. Additionally, our small oak aging barrel offers the perfect size for experimenting with small batches, allowing you to refine your recipes and techniques without committing to larger quantities. This flexibility enables you to tailor your aging process to suit your preferences, whether you're a seasoned enthusiast or a novice explorer of spirits. In summary, our pre-cured oak aging barrel combines convenience, customization, and quality craftsmanship, providing an unparalleled platform for elevating your drinking experience and unlocking a world of flavor possibilities right in the comfort of your own home. Cheers to new horizons and unforgettable libations!

Looking for a great gift for that special man?  You are sure to find something here at Red Head Barrels.  We have gift packages, whiskey making kits, custom engraved barrel heads, cigar barrels, shot glasses and man size barrel mugs.  Each can be custom engraved to make it a personal one of a kind gift for him.

Whether you are just starting out or are a seasoned pro at aging spirits, you can find everything you need at Red Head Barrels. Even if you bought your barrel somewhere else and only need the essences and other bourbon accessories, we have a wide range of products to suit your needs. Our essences are perfect for experimenting to find your favorite flavors – but don’t be surprised if you spend a lot of time experimenting with our wide variety of flavor possibilities! We offer diverse types of bourbon, five types of rum, and four different brandy flavors, so it’s never been more fun to flavor your own aged liquor at home. All you need to get started making the best tasting drinks ever are a few bottles of flavor essence, a few bottles of the neutral-flavored alcohol of your choice from your local liquor store, and one (or more) of our authentic oak aging barrels.

Holiday gift shopping is challenging and even stressful. Choosing personalized gifts makes things easier because you look like you put some real thought into it. This is only one of the reasons why you should choose personalized gifts this year. This includes the fact that they're: Thoughtful and unique because they include something as simple as the person's name or monogram or you can add a special message or photo to them. Memorable and cherished items the person receiving the gift will cherish. For instance, a customized Christmas ornament becomes a great gift when personalized because the recipient feels it's made just for them. Perfect for any occasion since there are so many choices available. Exclusive designs and options are available for you to preview before the personalized gifts are actually created. Budget-friendly and meant to last because manufacturers use the best materials and yet the price is kept affordable too. By choosing personalized gifts you'll stand out from the crowd. This is especially great when you're shopping for someone who's difficult to shop for or when it's important that you leave a good, lasting impression. So, make sure you consider giving personalized gifts to your friends and loved ones this Christmas.