American barrels are 225 Liters (59 gal), 65 and 70 gallon barrels are also available. Puncheons (hogsheads) can also be used and they can hold 120 gallons.2 My husband is looking into getting us Puncheons or 500 L barrels for our fermentations and aging.
The various barrel sizes have traditional and specific uses.2
Name | #Liters | #US Gallons | Uses |
Firkin | 41 L | 11 gal | Taking its name from old Middle Dutch for “fourth” implying a quarter of the size of a British Barrel. Traditionally used for dispensing cask ale. |
Quarter Cask | 50 L | 13 gal | A quarter of the size and proportion of an American Standard Barrel generating a higher wood to liquid ratio. Used for rich oak finishes in Scotch and American whiskey |
Rundlet | 70 L | 18 gal | Roughly half the size of a British Barrel. Traditionally used to transport wine. |
Tierce | 160 L | 42 gal | Closest cask in volume to that of a modern oil drum and one third of a Pipe. Traditionally used to transport wine, mature rum or store salted goods. |
British Barrel | 160 L | 43 gal | Roughly half a Hogshead. Traditionally used to store ale or lager |
ASB Barrel | 200 L | 54 gal | The American Standard Barrel is used throughout the US whiskey industry after which most are exported for reuse in maturing other spirit types including rum, tequila, Scotch and Irish whiskies. |
Hogshead | 250-300 L | 66-79 gal | The most popular cask used in maturing Scotch and Irish whiskies commonly consisting of re built ASB’s from the US which have already held American whiskey. With a slightly smaller oak to liquid ratio, it’s believed that Hogsheads react better to the cooler Scottish climate. Twice the size of a Barrel, half the size of a Butt, quarter of a Tun. Also used in wine and beer. |
Barrique | cognac 300 L wine 225 L |
cognac 79 gal wine 59 gal |
Standard barrel used for old French wine and cognac although at two different volumes. Traditionally coopered with wooden hoops instead of metal. |
Puncheon or Tertian | 450 L | 120 gal | Also known as a Tertian from the Latin for “third” implying a volume roughly one third of a Tun (330 litres) although modern day puncheon’s are closer to 500 litres. The modern rum industry favors a short, fat puncheon with thick staves known as a Machine Puncheon while the sherry industry prefers a more traditional tall, slim puncheon with thin staves called a Sherry Shape Puncheon. |
Butt | 500 L | 132 gal | Twice the size of a Hogshead, tall and narrow with thick staves and a nice set of hips true to its name. Commonly used for sherry. |
Pipe | 650 L | 172 gal | Tall cask yet stockier and rounder than a Butt with thick staves. Commonly used for port. |
Drum | 650 L | 172 gal | True to its name, short fat and dumpy with wide staves. Common cask for Madeira wine. |
Gorda | 700 L | 185 gal | Commonly used in North America for the marrying or vatting of different whiskies. |
Tun | 982 L | 250 gal | Roughly twice the size of a Butt and equal to four Hogsheads. Traditionally used for the fermentation of beer or marrying of spirits. Designed to represent one perfect imperial ton of liquid. |
An interesting read about the world's largest cask can be found here: Slate: From Taxes to Ax Marks: The Story Behind the World’s Largest Wine Cask.
References:
1. Drinking Cup: Understanding Maturation – Part 1: Know Your Casks.
2. Excellent slide presentation at: Barrels & Ageing, Santa Rosa Edu.
3. Shipboard Measurements.
4. Embracing Old Oak Barrels.
Oi querido,
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