2-Liter American White Oak Barrel Whiskey Kit

I cured the barrel per manufacturer's specifications and just to be sure I left it filled with water for a few days after the last drip leaked out. I then filled the barrel with 2 liters of unaged whiskey purchased from my local federally licensed distillery. After two weeks the barrel began weeping from under one of the metal bands. What leaked was a somewhat thick black substance, which appeared to be part whiskey and part dissolved coating from the metal bands. It made a real mess before I noticed it and put a drip pan under it. I think this is a function of the alcohol being thinner than water and the thickness of the wood in the barrel. I have since filled the barrel with water again and it does not appear to be leaking after 2 full weeks.The Whiskey I aged: My whiskey spent about 6 weeks in the tiny little barrel. Due to the leak issue I had approximately 1.25 liters left after 6 weeks. Because I have a friendly locally licensed distiller handy, I have a basis for comparison that many people may not have available. In theory, a 2 liter barrel will age whiskey much faster than a 30 gallon barrel like my distiller friend uses. After 5 weeks the 30 gallon barrel produced a very mellow, medium brown whiskey that was quite drinkable and tasty. I think it compares favorably to something like a Basil Hayden or some other very good microdistiller products I have sampled. After 6 weeks in my barrel, the whiskey came out tasting thin and sharp, with a slightly bitter aftertaste. The 30 gallon barrels were prepared with a medium toast and medium char, Deep South did not specify the toast of my barrel but did say that it had a medium char.Overall, I have to say I am unsatisfied with the barrel (my suspicion is that barrels that small simply aren't thick enough to swell up enough to not leak alcohol) and with the aged product it produced. I am not opposed to trying again with a slightly larger barrel to see if that stops the leaking issue, but the taste produced by this barrel was just unpalatable. My friends all agree that what I have done is turned 2 liters of a good base product into just over a liter of really bad whiskey. The bitter aftertaste particularly concerns me; I wonder if any of the dissolved black stuff managed to leach into and taint my product and who knows what chemicals that introduced.I am going to contact Deep South and if they will give me a credit for the small barrel I may try a larger one from them. If not I will find another manufacturer to buy from.

As an ornamental piece it is OK, but using it it is virtually impossible, it leaks a lot.

loose seems, cheaply constructed

Bought as a gift. Comparable to another one we have

the spicket is leaking

Very nice product and appealing to the eye. Not only does it make a nice whiskey, but it is a show piece for on top a bar.

Husband loves it. Says the flavor is excellent.

great gift but spigot was cracked and leaks, ordered another from deep south barrels, shipping a bit high, makes great rye and irish