Do you like your spirits barrel-aged but don't have the room for a large wine barrel? If so, you'll love the handcrafted barrels from Bad Motivator. These barrels are handmade in the USA with meticulous attention to detail. The man behind Badmotivator used only the finest materials, including stainless steel Bain Marie pots and quarter-sawn American white oak. This combination results in a barrel that ages spirits beautifully and produces a smooth, mellow flavour profile that is unmatched by any other at-home barrel on the market.

Ageing a spirit in a barrel is one of the most celebrated and romanticized methods of producing spirits. The basic idea is simple: after you have distilled your spirit, that spirit is then placed in a barrel, typically made of oak, which over time imparts the spirit with a brownish amber colour and oak-rich flavours like vanilla and toffee. The longer spirit ages, which can be anywhere from a few months to over half a century, the more pronounced these effects will be.

Traditional wisdom has it that time is what makes bourbon mature. However, as we shall see, time isn't the only thing that affects bourbon's flavour. The barrel's size, shape, and condition, the oak species it is composed of, and the weather in which it grows all influence its taste. For this reason, most prefer to use the phrase "barrel maturation." Although ageing is strictly linear, maturity is only one of many elements.

The white oak used in the Badmotivator barrels has been weathered to remove and modify tannins as well as promote the microbial breakdown of some of the hemicellulose and lignin into organoleptically interesting molecules. To fill and empty the barrel there is a bunghole in the barrel and comes with a bung. For convenience, there is also a stainless steel spigot for easy pouring. To ensure there are no leaks, beeswax is applied between the head staves and around the end of the head where it contacts the can.

American White Oak

American White Oak (Quercus alba) - American white oak tends to be sweeter with more flavours of coconut, dill, peach, and toffee. Naturally, it makes up the majority of barrels made in America, most of which are used to age American whiskey, notably bourbon.

Surface Area to Volume Ratio

The design of the barrels is intended to mimic the conditions inside a large oak barrel such as those used in the ageing of bourbon and/or whiskey. The spirit will have a similar exposure to an area of oak exposure, per volume as in the big casks. When left to rest face down, you get 10% more in2/gal exposure

It's impossible to over-oak or under-oak spirits in these barrels. They continue to develop and add a complex mix of oak tastes, none of which are harsh or distasteful.

Stave Thickness

Whiskey barrel staves come in a variety of thicknesses, ranging from 3/4 inch to 1 inch. Badmotivator Barrel staves are approximately 15 to 16 inches thick.

So if you want to mature your very own whiskey from home, check out the Badmotivator barrels online right here, or come and see them in person at our store. Located at 370 Grubb Road, Wallington.