Barrel making
AGEING
Film on barrel making
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About the film
● Drying the “merrains”
● Making the heads
● Assembling the staves
● Warm-up (“chauffe”) and shaping (“cintrage”)
The wood is moistened regularly as it is subjected to the fire, softening the staves.
During this warm-up period, a hoop placed at the base of the cask is progressively tightened so that the staves come together, ultimately joining without the need for glue or nails.
● Bousinage
The intensity of toasting (“bousinage”) greatly influences the characteristics of the eaux-de-vie. The smell of bousinage evokes that of freshly baked baguettes.
● Bung hole
● Fitting the heads
● Testing for leaks
After the last finishing touches, the cask is tested for solidity and injected with boiling water to reveal any leaks.