Barrel Toasting Temperatures…

Karen, I know that barrels are toasted over a live fire when they are made.  Wouldn’t the barrel just burn up?

Barrels are designated as light toast, medium toast, medium plus toast or heavy toast.  The inside of a light toast barrel is usually toasted for approximately 25 to 30 minutes.  A heavy toast barrel, for 55 to 60 minutes.  (The exact times vary according to the cooper.)  The temperature of the fire in the fire pot can reach 800 to 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit.  To keep barrels from burning completely, the cooper or barrel maker often swabs the outside of the barrel with a wet rag while the inside is toasting.

— Karen

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