Details: **Make your own Rum with a Rum Connoisseur Kit**
Based in Virginia, a bloodline of bootleggers past, Thousand Oak Barrel Co. brings the honored tradition of distilling home by providing the proper tools to age your own spirits. The kit includes everything you need to make your finest blend of Rum aged to perfection. Alcohol NOT included.
**Kit Includes**
- 1 liter American White Oak Barrel
- Cast Iron Stand
- Bung and Spigot (charred)
- 3 unique bottles of Essence
- Bottles of Essence arrive labelled
- Paper Funnel
- Barrel Cleaning Kit
- Complete Instructions included
**ESSENCES:**
- Spiced Essence
- Dark Jamaican Essence
- Amber Caribbean Essence
# GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS: - Start by curing your barrel (instructions below)
- Pour most of a 750ml bottle of 40% alc./vol. grain alcohol, neutral vodka or swish alcohol into the barrel
- Add 1 bottle of your desired Essence and fill the barrel with the remaining alcohol
- SHAKE WELL to mix thoroughly
- It's best when aged for 2 or more weeks, but if you can't wait... DRINK NOW!
- Clean barrels with cleaning kit (included) after 2-3 uses
# CURE YOUR BARREL: - Tightly insert the spigot using a mallet or place a sloth over the spigot and gently hammer it in
- Fill with hot water and insert the bung
- Allow 3 to 5 days for the barrel to completely seal
- Once cured, fill the barrel with your favorite spirit and place the bung in to remove any air
- **Do not submerge your barrel in water!**
# AGING SPIRITS: - Due to the higher surface area of the 1 liter barrel, spirits will age 8x to 10x faster than the standard 52 gallon barrel
- Turn the barrel a quarter turn weekly to redistribute the liquid contact with the charred oak
- Age to taste
- Drink from the barrel or pour into a glass container to stop the aging
# STORING BETWEEN USES: - Dissolve storing tablets (included) in a glass of water
- Pour into the barrel and top off with water
- **Barrels left without liquid will dry out!**
Every barrel will develop it’s own individual flavor profile. This is due to the individuality of each tree, each stave, the amount of charring, climate, season, size of barrel, etc… No two barrels will be alike. Monitor your barrel’s performance for future batches, but know that each batch will take a bit longer than the previous
