The Barrel Mill Blog

The holiday season is rapidly approaching again. You’ve likely seen the first few festive commercials on TV promoting holiday travel, shopping, and meals. An image often conjured up during the holiday season is people huddled around the fireplace or campfire with their favorite beverage: eggnog, hot chocolate, or a glass of whiskey.  Pairing whiskeys with… Read more »

Homebrewing is a popular hobby. It’s also one that comes with a lot of trial and error. If you are not familiar with the process of treating a wooden barrel, maintaining a brew, and properly storing your finished product, you might go through more attempts than you might like. Take a look at a few… Read more »

The leaves are changing color. Temperatures are much cooler. Folks are packing up their shorts and tank tops and breaking out their fall knits. There are many characteristics of fall in the Midwest, and one big change is the resurgence of hard ciders. Aesthetically, there is something about whiskey barrels that just screams fall. They… Read more »

Wooden whiskey barrels often have the most unique flavor profiles. Many major distillers use aged wooden barrels to create the richest, most distinctive tasting spirits. If a wooden barrel used for distilling whiskey, bourbon, scotch, or another specialty liquor encounters a leak, don’t automatically replace it. The barrel might need a repair or adjustment and… Read more »

Homebrewing is more than just a hobby these days. Many companies and breweries have found success after dabbling in their garages to master their craft. Homebrewing goes beyond just beer. Ciders, wines, and tons of other beverages can be created at home. One popular beverage that homebrewers are dabbling in as of lately is Kombucha. … Read more »

Since the pandemic hit last year, many of us have tried our hand at baking and new recipes. Banana bread and homemade muffins are great to try for the first time but don’t be afraid to step up your baking game with some delicious whiskey-infused desserts and recipes. They’re not just for special occasions –… Read more »

A well-stocked home bar creates a comfortable space to relax or entertain guests. Even if you aren’t an expert mixologist, having a home bar with all the accessories and the tools is essential in creating delicious cocktails. A small collection of basic glassware, tools, mixers, and liquors will allow you to execute virtually any cocktail… Read more »

It is crazy to think that alcohol was once illegal in the United States. While the people of the time got around the laws with underground speakeasies, they were not the only place alcohol could be found during the prohibition era. Two years after the prohibition started, congress passed a law that allowed for the… Read more »

You may have heard whiskey experts talk about “blended whiskey” and left yourself wondering what that means. A blended whiskey means different things around the world, but in the United States, blended whiskey must contain a minimum of 20% of straight whiskey. The rest of the bottle can be other alcohol, flavoring, coloring, etc. Blended… Read more »