Wooden containers are the best way to store and age alcoholic beverages. For a certain time, the home-made distillate in the process of contact with wood is saturated with the richness of natural ingredients, which has a positive effect on the taste, color and aroma of the finished product. The jug and barrel are the most popular vessels of this type. In the article you will find out how these two containers differ, and what are their operational features.

Definitions

What is a jug? This is a wooden product made in the form of a cone or cylinder. Most often used for storing liquids, especially homemade alcoholic beverages. Mostly this vessel is made of oak wood. This option is very popular among distillers, since the tannins of this breed penetrate into alcohol. After storing the drink in a jug, you can get a completely different taste and aroma. You can clearly find out what a jug is in the photo.

In terms of volume and appearance, this vessel is very similar to a barrel, only not in an upright position, but lying on a special pallet. In most cases, the product is equipped with a small faucet, which is a huge advantage and makes it easier to use. The average volume of a jug is from 5-10, up to a maximum of fifty liters.

What is a barrel? This is a cylindrical container used for storing and transporting alcoholic beverages, pickles and other products. Products can be made of different materials, but they are more popular. They have useful properties that have a positive effect on the taste of the stored product. The capacity of such products can reach several hundred liters. The barrel is characterized by a complicated production process, in which each rivet is processed and bent separately.

Differences

Knowing the definitions of the vessels, we can easily find out how the jug differs from the barrel. Since the former is most often made from oak wood and is used to store strong and weak alcoholic beverages, consider what are its differences with a barrel of the same purpose:

An oak barrel or jug ​​is perfect for storing and aging alcoholic beverages. The second option, due to its compactness, is very convenient for home brewing of moonshine, beer, wine, kvass, brandy, etc. in a private house.

It is impossible to give an exact answer as to which is better, an oak jug or a barrel. Each owner determines the degree of convenience of the product independently. We tried to give the most understandable definition of the meaning of each vessel and their differences. The choice is always yours.

A wooden barrel changes the quality of the drink. To saturate the distillate with aromas and give color, oak barrels are used for moonshine. They store and mature cognac, whiskey, rum.

The quality of the barrel is influenced by the wood. Caucasian oak is most suitable for the manufacture of containers. Choose a tree that is 80–140 years old. For a quality product, exclude plants with growths and rotten ones.

Moonshine is poured into an oak barrel for storage

To make a barrel, a piece of wood called "tulka" is used. Split the log at the core. The oak barrel is made by the cooper. Craftsmen call the board for the vessel "riveting". She goes through three degrees of selection. The board is irrigated and dried for a year and a half.

After that, the riveting is taken for the frame. The boards should be free of curved rays and other defects.

On the machine, the middle of the riveting is cut off so that it becomes convex. Then the skeleton is assembled using a special mold. They alternate between wide and narrow rivets. At the next stage, the structure is turned over.

Working hoops are hammered with a hammer and hammer. There are subtleties here: they hit hard, but once. The hand should be to the left of the heel. This is necessary when the hammer comes off. In this case, the hand will not be hurt.

The next operation is steaming. The skeleton is sent to the cell for one hour. This is where the products become stronger and more flexible.

An important element of the product is the sweet clover. The boards fit tightly together. On the machine, a circle is cut out with a milling cutter and the edges are grinded.

The skeleton is taken out of the steam chamber and treated with fire, the hoops are tightened. The barrel is additionally watered. The clover is being finalized and installed. Then the product is polished and new hoops are put on (8 pieces). At the final stage, a hole is drilled.

Choice of containers

How to choose an oak barrel? Products differ from each other. When choosing an oak vessel, pay attention to the following points:

1. Roast degree.
2. Wood grade.
3. Manufacturer.

Choose a barrel with a medium to high roast. Products with a tap are not the best option, as cracks form in this place. The barrel is constantly breathing. It changes in volume depending on temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure.

The tightness of the product can be checked upon purchase. To do this, remove the top plug and blow into the vessel. If the air returns, the tightness is good. Before that, close the tap.

There are products in stores with and without wax. Which one to choose? The waxed product has the following advantages:

• improves tightness;
• loss of alcohol is reduced.

In the shops there are products with metal and stainless steel hoops. The material from which the rims are made does not affect the quality of the distillate.

Preparing a new product

There are several stages of preparation:

1. Coated with oil paint.
2. Steaming.
3. Soaking.
4. Rinsing with water.

The following places are painted over with natural paint:

• rivets and bottom joints;
• the ends of the boards.

In factories, products are sealed with oil paint. Please note that the container must not be coated. The barrel must be breathable for the distillate to mature. For a certain product - its own color. The joints of the rivets, the ends of the boards are painted with white paint for cognac. The operation is carried out before soaking the container.

The process of steaming at home is as follows. Boiling water is poured into a barrel for moonshine by 1/3, and it is scrolled. Hot water is left in the container for 30 minutes. Then it is drained.

Water at room temperature is suitable for soaking containers. If boiling water is poured, it is not recommended to leave it until it cools completely. The container is filled completely and inspected. Water may ooze between the ends and the rivets. When the wood swells, the cracks are closed. After the control examination, the water should not ooze out.

If the container is used for strong drinks, pour in raw alcohol (10-15 liters). This must be done because the board contains tannins. They can be washed with the product 20-50% of the revolutions. It is not advised to soak with weak alcohol (less than 20%), as the process may be delayed.

The alcohol is kept in a barrel for three months. After 1.5 months, it is advised to pour in a new distillate.

How do I restore a keg?

The old product must be inspected beforehand. To clean you need a tool:

• hammer;
• Bulgarian;
• pliers;
• Sander;
• chisels;
• knives;
• heel.

Hoops are removed and sanded with a machine. The place where the rims were is treated with a grinder. The wooden barrel is sanded with a machine. The grinder removes rust from the hoops. Then the rims are deposited on the barrel.

If the container is heavily contaminated, remove the bottom and clean the inside. Check through the chop hole. The hoop is removed, and then the bottom. In order not to break the tightness, notches are made on the bottom and barrel. This will install in the same position.

A small layer is removed from the inside with a grinder. The vessel is then rinsed. Collect the bottom, and besiege the hoops.

They sell barrels of various sizes from three liters to 3000. Their prices are 2700-132,000 rubles. There are such cooperage products in stores:

• anchors;
• with a wooden flask;
• barilki;
• jugs.

The anchor, or oval barrel, has a handle on top so it's easy to carry.

A product made of chipped rivets is appreciated. Such a container is less air permeable. The log is split along the grain, so the riveting is strong. In a cracked oak container, alcohol is better.

The following spirits mature in barrels:

• cognac;
• whiskey;
• tequila;
• bourbon;
• Calvados.

The whiskey is aged in sherry barrels.

Over time, the products are depleted: the concentration of oak components decreases. In the future, the oak barrel is used only as a vessel. After six to seven pours of alcohol, it is 90% depleted.

An oak barrel for moonshine dries quickly, so it is not left empty. After the cognac, it is necessary to pour alcohol in a day. To preserve the natural moisture content of the wood, the barrels are stored in a cool and humid environment. It is necessary to use stands and decks for products.

An oak barrel allows you to create a noble drink like whiskey. After distillation, the mash is poured into a barrel. The distillate is diluted with water to 63–64%. Then it is poured into a vessel and tightly closed.

Whiskey is made from barley. Single malt whiskeys are made with the following ingredients:

• barley malt;
• yeast;
• water - hydromodule 1: 3.

The aged product can only be tasted after three years. Alcoholic drinks are stored in vessels for years. All ancient recipes contain an oak barrel or jug. Craftsmen do not use glue when making containers.

Making a quality homemade alcoholic drink is a real art that requires a certain amount of knowledge and experience. In addition, experts say that special containers must be used for the production and storage of homemade alcohol. Experts consider wooden containers to be the most suitable. When storing homemade wine or whiskey in anchors or tubs, the drink acquires a wonderful taste and unique aroma. One of the most popular types of containers used in the production of home alcohol is a jug. What is a jug? How is it different from other types of containers? What kind of jugs are there?

What is a jug?

A jug, or can, is a small vessel with a lid that is used to store various kinds of drinks at home. Questions about what a jug is, what types of jugs are, are often of interest to novice winemakers.

Wood jugs are predominantly used. Wines made in wooden, plastic and metal jars differ in many ways. In a wooden jug, wine does not oxidize, since the container completely excludes contact with metal. Thanks to such a property of wood as the absence of tightness, the wine in a wooden jug gets the opportunity to "breathe". In the process of interaction of wine with the material of the container, a rich bouquet of the drink is created.

Beginners should know that oak is the most popular material for making jugs. Oak wood contains tannins necessary for production. In the process of natural diffusion, the drink absorbs them and acquires a unique, memorable aroma and taste. If you pour ordinary vodka into an oak jar and infuse it well, you get a rather strong drink with a rich gamut and, according to experts, valuable medicinal properties.

Often newbies ask questions: what is a jug and how is it used? Such a container is used for the preparation and storage of homemade wine, kvass, mead, and various tinctures. Mostly jugs are made in volumes from 3 to 50 liters.

What is the difference between a jug and a barrel?

Winemakers are often interested in this question. These capacities differ:

1. Form. The jug has the shape of a cone, tapering slightly upward. The barrel, on the other hand, is a cylinder in which the central part is somewhat widened.
2. Storage method. The barrels are transported and stored in any position. Drinks are kept and stored in jugs. The vessels can be either in a horizontal or vertical position. They are not suitable for transportation.
3. The cost, which directly depends on the manufacturing technology of the container. Since a jug is made in a simpler way than a barrel, it costs a little less.

What's better?

The answer to this question depends on your goals. If you need a container for storing drinks in small volumes, it is better to purchase a jug. It will successfully fulfill the function of a wonderful interior element in the kitchen or living room. For semi-industrial production of cognac, whiskey or wine, it is better to use a spacious oak barrel.

Making high-quality homemade alcoholic beverages is a whole art that requires certain knowledge, experience and special utensils. We are talking about a wooden container, because it is considered the best for alcohol. If you store homemade wine or whiskey in barrels, tubs, anchors, the drink will have a wonderful taste and unique aroma. Let's dwell on one type of containers in more detail. What is a jug and how does it differ from a barrel? If we are going to start determining the difference between the containers, we will give a short explanation.

What does jumbo mean?

In most dictionaries, the opinion on this matter is the same. A jug is a small vessel with a lid, usually made of wood and used for the transportation and storage of alcoholic beverages, kvass, etc. Initially, this was the name of a large conical mug intended for drinking and pouring liquids. Today it is impossible to unequivocally answer the question of what a jug means. After all, this is how large barrels began to be called. Let's dwell on a newer interpretation. Let's try to determine the difference between a jug and a barrel. It is worth noting that such a container allows not only storing ready-made alcoholic beverages, but also keeping them.

Differences

Trying to understand whether a jug or a barrel is better, it is worth determining the features of the first type of container. And this:

A separate feature of the product is its lower cost, because it is usually made using a relatively simple technology. An exception is packaging, which is used for decorative purposes and is often installed in restaurants and cafes.

A barrel or a jug?

You can answer this question by focusing on your goals. If we are talking about storing alcoholic beverages in small quantities and their subsequent use, it is better to purchase a jug. It will also become a wonderful interior element in the living room, in the kitchen, in the cafe. If you are engaged in the semi-industrial production of whiskey, cognac and wine, then there is no better container than a huge oak barrel. You can order cooperage products for any purpose in one of the manufacturers' online stores, for example

The production of high-quality alcoholic beverages is a rather difficult and lengthy process. Often, the finished product is aged for a certain time in order to refine and give it a unique taste. And by no means the last role in this process is assigned to the selection of a suitable container. After all, alcohol that settles in plastic or metal containers undergoes oxidation and does not have the ability to "breathe". Whereas storage of drinks in wooden vessels has a positive effect on their properties: taste, color and aroma. Consider the most popular products of this type and give a detailed answer to the question of how a jug differs from a barrel.

Definitions

Jug- cooper product. It is a wooden vessel of conical or cylindrical shape for storing liquids. In most cases it is made from oak rich in tannins. Initially, this term denoted a voluminous wooden mug with a lid, which narrowed slightly upward. Its capacity was 1.5-2 liters. The product was used for the preparation and consumption of home brew or kvass. This is where the expression "juggle" came from, meaning "to drink a lot." Today, the vessel is increasingly used to settle alcohol (wine, cognac, whiskey, mead) both at home and on an industrial scale. The taste of the drink aged in it becomes much deeper and richer. Modern jugs are not at all like mugs. In terms of volume and appearance, they can be compared to barrels, but not standing upright, but lying on special stands. For ease of use, the vessels are equipped with taps. The average volume of such containers is 5-10 liters, the maximum is up to 50.

Jug

Barrel- a cylindrical vessel designed for transportation and storage of various substances. It is a mobile product that can be rolled from one place to another. Also, the container is installed on the ends without any supports. This convex vessel has a wider central portion in relation to the top and base. Wooden barrels are made of rivets - curved boards that form side surfaces. The finished product is often pulled together with hoops. Most often, wooden containers are used to settle wine and strong distillates (whiskey, cognac, etc.). Today, barrels are also made from other materials, be it metal or plastic. They are widely used to transport liquids (kerosene, alcohol, resin) and bulk substances (rice, sugar, glue, saltpeter). The capacity of such vessels can be up to several hundred liters.

Comparison

First of all, let's compare the products in terms of external parameters. Unlike a barrel, a jug is often tapered and tapers slightly upward. It is located in a horizontal position, installed on a special stand. For ease of use, the vessel is equipped with a small faucet. As for the capacity of the container, it is not too large. The maximum volume of the jug is 50 liters.

The barrel has a cylindrical shape, very convenient for rolling. With a wide central part, it is installed on narrower ends without the use of a support. When it comes to storing drinks, the vessel can also be placed horizontally and equipped with a tap, but this is rather rare. The capacity of the container reaches several hundred liters.

Another difference between a jug and a barrel is the scope of the product. The first is used primarily for the settling of alcoholic beverages. Jbans are made exclusively of wood using a relatively simple technology using straight rivets. This leads to their fairly democratic cost. Such containers are not intended for transportation. Barrels are made from a variety of materials, including plastic and metal. If we are talking about wooden products, then their production is a rather painstaking work, because each riveting is bent individually. Accordingly, the cost of such a product can hardly be called low.

It should also be noted that the scope of the barrels is very, very diverse. Due to the mobility of the product, it is often used to transport liquids and bulk materials. Plastic, wooden and metal vessels are often installed in summer cottages for watering plants. And you shouldn't forget about settling drinks. Oak barrels are ideal for cleaning and aging strong distillates. Even ordinary vodka poured into them will change its flavor range over time and acquire healing properties.

To summarize, what is the difference between a jug and a barrel.