One of the problems with using Edgar Cayce’s apple brandy keg is that liquids in a wood keg gradually evaporate. Evaporation is faster in deserts, air conditioned buildings, and homes that are heated in the winter. Kegs that are ‘put away’ will dehydrate, the wood will shrink, and will no longer hold liquid.
Michael recently reached out to share that his keg is 26 years old, and that he’s recently started using a large plastic bag to keep his precious brandy from escaping.
I recently purchased 2.5-gallon and 3-gallon bags, then left my keg in a warm trunk for a while. When I opened the bag, I smelled a strong odor of ethanol. I think this simple change in my barrel routine will save me a lot of money on brandy.
My 3L kegs with spigots don’t fit sideways in the 2.5-gallon bags, but they do fit nicely in the 3-gallon bags. My 3L spigot-free kegs fit sideways in the 2.5-gallon bags. If you put the keg in the bag upright the fill hole is not very accessible – you’d have to remove the keg from the bag to use it. Hefty’s 2.5-gallon bags are 14 3/8″ by 16″ (36.5cm x 40.6cm), and might be available at your local big-box stores. Amazon has 3-gallon bags.
Cayce recommended a 1-gallon charred oak keg half-filled with apple brandy. 1 gallon is 3.79 liters. 1/2 gallon is 1.89 L — or about 2.5 bottles of Laird’s apple brandy. At current prices this is at least $80 in brandy. My kegs are 3L, mainly so they don’t need so much brandy. I only add a cup at a time, and check it every week to make sure it still has a little liquid.
From today on, all the kegs that I sell will include a large bag. If you have one of my kegs and would like one of these bags, send me an email and I’ll send one to you.