DSB Customer Uses Barrels to Bond with Family

Aging barrels are extremely versatile, and we love when we hear from clients who utilize their barrels in a multitude of ways. James Farnon, of East Texas, is one of those clients. He reached out to us to tell us about how he uses the barrels to educate his children about history.

Maintaining Traditions

“My dad used to work at a distillery,” James says. “So I grew up kind of knowing about the process of distilling and how the barrels work. I knew you could make other stuff in them too, not just whiskey and bourbon. I like to cook, and I make my own BBQ sauce and then age it in my barrel.” James says that he likes to work in the kitchen with his two children, and allows them to pour ingredients in the barrel.

“It’s good for them to learn about the history of different utensils, like the aging barrels. There’s a lot of history attached to them. Ancient Romans used them, and it gives them a sense of culture. Since you have to let the sauce sit for a while, it really builds anticipation with the kids, like they look forward to the next batch.” James uses a blend of vinegar, ketchup, spices, and Worchester sauce for his barrel-aged BBQ sauce. “The oak barrel gives it a really great flavor. The barrel I use I have actually aged Jack Daniels in before, so a little bit of that flavor goes into the sauce. It’s so much better than anything you can buy in the store.

Tricks of the Trade

James’s favorite thing about Deep South Barrels is the level of quality in the products. “I have three barrels, and they have lasted me through lots of uses,” he says. “I plan to buy another one soon. I heard about you guys searching for mini barrels online. I was ready to start my own aged bourbon.”

For beginning barrel-agers, James offers this advice: “Don’t let stuff age for too long, and don’t be afraid to taste test it a couple weeks in. I use 2L barrels because those work the best for me. But don’t be afraid to experiment.”

Thanks for reaching out, James! If you would like your Deep South Barrels experience to be featured on our blog, email us at [email protected]. Added by Christina on March 12, 2015.