Oak barrels

[Nate]

Have our first traditional sweet mead that will be available shortly (all melomels prior to this) and I'd like to oak barrel a portion of it (new American oak... medium toast).

Just wondering for those of you that have barreled your mead, how long did you leave it in the barrel? I realize it's dependent upon barrel size and each person's particular taste but I was just trying to get some idea. I'll be sampling every few days at first but should I expect days or weeks? Longer?

 

[Johan__]

I have a 18 liter american oak barrel not toasted and 26 days last batch of Blueberry melomel.

 

[Nate]

I'm a little hesitant about even trying this on a sweet mead. I'm assuming that, like wine, oak goes better with the drier meads but haven't really found much info on this.

 

[Johan__]

I have not had a dry mead in my barrel...

 

[Nate]

I have not had a dry mead in my barrel...

And into the barrel it shall go...