What a great idea to age your own rum!
We support you both in acquiring the elements to do so, and through our advice.
First you need a barrel
We offer the Allary range, made in France from French oak.
Allary has been a cooper since 1953. Located in Charente-Maritime, the company supplies cognac and wine producers. Today, it exports all over the world.
The oak used comes from ONF (Office National des Forêts) forests. It is either sessile or pedunculate (mainly sessile).
Allary produces barrels for a wide range of uses: fermentation tanks, maturing tanks, casks, and finally aging barrels for spirits.
But above all, and this is what interests us, it has made a specialty of manufacturing small kegs.
Small casks are made entirely by hand by Allary coopers. Small casks are just as complex and almost as time-consuming to make as large ones, which explains why a small 20-liter cask is "only" 50% more expensive than a 1-liter micro cask, for example.
They are heated on an open brazier (as in the photo below). This corresponds to average heating.
Heating small drums
Please note: the casks we sell are PARAFFIN-FREE. Kerosene strongly inhibits the aging of spirits.
How do I order a small Allary keg on our site?
Choosing a barrel size
New barrels: 1-liter, 2-liter, 3-liter, 5-liter, 10-liter, 15-liter, 20-liter (see list of all barrels and options)
New: we also offer a 5-liter barrel that has already contained cognac for 3 months.
Each barrel comes with its own wooden stand (included in the price).
Naturally, these drums are delivered empty.
Bending
You can then add the following options
Wooden tap: free of charge
Stainless steel tap: 17 euros incl. VAT
Engraving of a personalized word (short): 20 euros incl. VAT (text to be sent by e-mail to service.client@rhumattitude.com, specifying the desired font: Times New Roman, Lucida calligraphy or Script MT Bold).
Logo: 30 euros incl. VAT (laser engraving: your logo will be engraved on the front of the barrel, and Allary's on the back. Please send us an image of your logo by e-mail to service.client@rhumattitude.com).
Logo branding
Transport
Barrels leave directly from the cooper's warehouse (not from our warehouse in Le Mans).
Barrel transport is included in the price.
1) If you buy only one or several barrels, you will not have to pay any additional shipping costs.
In order to be able to offer the lowest price and because it would require us to make a specific package for this, there are no samples or gifts offered as with the other products on our site.
2) if you take other items (rum or other products from our site), there will be shipping costs (carrier to be chosen when you finalize your order), except if the amount of these other items exceeds 140 euros and if you want delivery in metropolitan France or in the following countries Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands.
For the time being, we only deliver to mainland France (included in the price) and to the following countries (an optional surcharge applies): Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Netherlands, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Ireland or Austria.
We deliver to your home only (or to your business, but not to a "point relais").
When you finalize your order, we use the address you enter in the "Billing address" section.
If you require delivery to an address other than this one, please write to us before D+1 9:00 am to service.client@rhumattitude.com.
Deadlines
Your keg order will be dispatched D+1 working day, i.e. the day after the order is placed (except for orders placed on Fridays: the package will be dispatched on Monday).
Delivery times are around 3 working days for Metropolitan France, and 5 working days for other countries.
Warranty
Barrels are guaranteed for 2 years
Special requests and details
If you would like to make any comments about the position of your personalized logo (behind rather than in front, or if you do not want the Allary logo to appear on the keg), or about the application of a particular logo, text or tap on a particular keg (if you have ordered several kegs and there are several possible combinations), please write to us no later than 9:00 am the day after your order at service.client@rhumattitude.com.
Start your aging experience
What do I do when I receive my keg?
When you receive your barrel, fill it with cold water for 24 hours (no more) to allow the wood to swell.
If you notice a leak, leave the water on for another 24 hours. Then empty your barrel through the bung.
Which rum to use?
We recommend high proof rum, as the alcohol content will decrease with age (the angels' share...).
Of course, rhum agricole between 55° and 65° is perfect.
Long-fermented white rums are very aromatic and can be used either neat for those addicted to high esters, or as an enhancer when blended with rhum agricole, for example: Hampden Rum Fire, Rum Bar, Rum Nation white pot still, Wray & Nephew, Monymusk or Le grand arôme de la baie du Galion.
How to age your rum
Do not fill to the brim; leave a margin of around 10%. It is possible for the volume to increase with temperature variations.
At first filling, the new wood absorbs about 10% of the liquid. You can then top it up. With an ex-cognac barrel, you won't have this phenomenon.
Place your barrel in an area away from direct sunlight and draughts (which increase evaporation).
Taste regularly! Especially during the first pass, which will be woodier. The smaller the barrel, the faster the process, as contact with the wood/liter is higher.
You can use the tap for tasting, but once you've reached the desired result, it's best to empty the whole thing at once through the bung, using a hose as if you were draining it. Otherwise, the rum at the bottom will quickly become too woody.