Mason Jar lid stave

Evil_Dark

I tried a variant for the traditionnal "oak-stave-in-a-jar" aging proceedure...
I wanted to add a litle bit of "breathing" from the wood by having the oak stave coming across the lid. So the wood can probably exchange and oxygenate the spirit by is fibre.
I took a 1 1/8" X 1 1/8" white oak stave and made a round at one end using a hole saw (a wood lathe would have been even better! But I don't have one yet...)
So I drilled a hole in the lid a bit smaller than the round part of the stave, then I pushed press fit the stave in the hole.
Then I charred the oak (should have done it before assembling the stave with the lid, but it worked anyway)
Then I have to place the lid on the mason jar and wait!
This is a Honey Bear Bourbon newmake at 60%abv, the rest sits in a 5 litres new charred oak barrel. So i'll be able to compare both of the different aging in the future!Attachments

ctq2l2iuhej.JPG

4hiaucndi23.JPG

21ey2zov0nk.JPG

Last edited by Evil_Dark on Tue Dec 13, 2022 12:51 pm, edited 2 times in total.Evil_Dark

higgins

Excellent! I'll be interested to hear the comparison.higgins
25 yr AG beer brewer, newbie stiller
15 gal 5500w kettle pot still with 2" x 12" copper riser,
and a 3/4" over 1/2" by 24" liebig with a twist.
Also  a 3 qt Gin pot still

Ben

Nice, I am curious if it will wick spirit out; you have the grain oriented in a way that capillary may pull spirit through the top of the wood. I did a bung plug like this and the end of the plug was wet pretty quickly, switched grain orientation to fix it.:)

Evil_Dark

I was also worried like you about that, but it's been 4 days now and the end of the stave stays  dry.
When I sanded the end of the stave, it burned a bit (you can see that the round part is very dark) so I'm not sure if it helped to prevent this phenomenon?
This morning there was already a sligh bronze coloration from the oak. I tried to smell the lid to detect any spirit odours, and I didn't smelled anything so it loos like kinda sealed.Evil_Dark

Dancing4dan

Interesting idea.
If it wicks try cross drilling the stave above the liquid level below the lid."What harms us is to persist in self deceit and ignorance"
Marcus Aurelius
Yellow Label... I put that sh#t on everything!

BrewinBrian44

I believe I saw a method just like this a while back while searching around HD. From what I remember, the assertions about potential “wicking” did in happen, giving the angels their share much faster. I’ll try to find the thread.

Evil_Dark

hey ive got a couple lids i did the same thing with. works pretty good in my opinion. lets it breathe, yes you do lose a little more but nothing to cry home about.

squigglefunk

Good to hear! How long you did age your spirit with this setup?Evil_Dark

Evil_Dark

Good to hear! How long you did age your spirit with this setup?
i was doing very small scale experimenting with pint jars. but usually it was 2 weeks at most i found to be ok.  but thats also with the jar sitting in front of my heater vents to speed up heat and cold cycles. then air out a day or two. i tought i made a couple fine drinks with it... haha