A method of aging distilled spirits, and a system to perform the method, the method including storing the distilled spirits in one or more containment vessels, securing the containment vessels in an unpressurized and ventilated cargo area of a selected flight vessel, and transporting the containment vessels from at least a first destination to at least a second destination upon the selected flight vessel.

The present invention relates to a barrel lid, such as a wood wine barrel lid, that inhibits and withstands warping and/or deformation. In one embodiment, the anti-warping wine barrel head comprises a plurality of adjacent slats, a plurality of staves where at least one stave disposed between each pair of adjacent slats, a plurality of grooves disposed on a top and/or bottom surface of the barrel head where each groove is oriented at an angle with respect to the plurality of slats, and a plurality of rods disposed in the plurality of top and/or bottom surface grooves where at least one rod is disposed in each of the plurality of top and/or bottom surface grooves. In some embodiments, staves are double flanged or rectangular, and rods have a half-round cross-section or triangular cross-section. In other embodiments, a gasket may span the periphery of the barrel lid, for example, along a lip thereof. In some embodiments, a locking ring is utilized to secure wine barrel lid to the container or drum.

The invention concerns a method for monitoring a collection of barrels (12) by an apparatus for monitoring a collection of barrels (12) comprising: for each barrel (12), at least one electronic module (18), the electronic module (18) being specific to the considered barrel (12), and a user terminal, the method including a step of: for each barrel, recording first data in the associated electronic module (18), collecting of second data by the user terminal operating in a second operating mode, and transmitting the data to the data management platform.

A wooden barrel apparatus for aging products includes an inner wooden barrel positioned in an outer wooden barrel. A first volume may be defined within the inner wooden barrel. A second volume may be defined between the inner wooden barrel and the outer wooden barrel. One or more surfaces of the inner wooden barrel and the outer wooden barrel may be charred.

A container assembly (10) for retaining a liquid (14) during aging of the liquid (14) includes a container (12), a first flavor insert (16), and an insert retainer assembly (18). The container (12) defines a chamber (12A) which receives and retains the liquid (14). The first flavor insert (16) imparts a flavor on the liquid (14). The insert retainer assembly (18) is positioned within the chamber (12A) and is secured to the container (12). The insert retainer assembly (18) includes an alignment rack (30) and a retainer rack (32). The alignment rack (30) includes a first alignment guide (30C) that guides the first flavor insert (16) during positioning of the first flavor insert (16) within the container (12). The retainer rack (32) has a first attacher (32C) that selectively and individually engages the first flavor insert (16) to inhibit large scale movement of the first flavor insert (16) relative to the retainer rack (32).

An apparatus is provided for cutting a plurality of workpieces that is arranged relative to first, second, and third reference axes that are perpendicular to each other. The apparatus includes a cutting assembly and an input assembly. The cutting assembly includes a chassis, and first and second saw blades movably coupled to the chassis that are configured to respectively cut along first and second cutting planes that are transverse to each other. The input assembly includes a tabletop and first and second clamping mechanisms for clamping the workpieces collectively. The first clamping mechanism includes a first counterpart and a first movable member that is translatable along the first reference axis and translatable relative to the first counterpart. The second clamping mechanism includes a second counterpart and a plurality of second movable members that are each translatable along the second reference axis relative to the second counterpart.

A cap adapted to cover an end of a cask for maturation of a spirit, comprises a body having an outer plate and a flange extending from the outer plate, and an inner plate spaced from the outer plate. The inner plate lies between the outer plate and the end of the cask when the cap is in place on the end of the cask. A layered or ridged spacer can separate the plates, and can permit fluid transfer in the space between the plates. The inner plate can be resistant to vapor transfer, and can be pressed against the outer surface of the end of the cask when the cap is in place on the end of the cask, and leaves an annular area of the end of the cask uncovered.

Package (1) for beverages having an alcoholic contents (B) comprising: a wood barrel (2) configured for containing a predetermined quantity of an alcoholic beverage (B), at least one jacket (4) made of a plastic material film engaged outside the barrel (2) for covering at least a preponderant part of a lateral wall (2c) of the barrel itself, the jacket (4) comprises an elastically deformable tubular element (5) fitted at least partially around the lateral wall (2c) and exhibiting at least one elastically deformed portion intimately adhering to the barrel (2) lateral wall (2c); further an apparatus and process for making the package (1) by applying on the barrel (2) the jacket (4) having the shape of a first and second shells (7, 10) opposite to each other, are described.

The present invention relates to a barrel lid, such as a wood wine barrel lid, that inhibits and withstands warping and/or deformation. In one embodiment, the anti-warping wine barrel head comprises a plurality of adjacent slats, a plurality of staves where at least one stave disposed between each pair of adjacent slats, a plurality of grooves disposed on a top and/or bottom surface of the barrel head where each groove is oriented at an angle with respect to the plurality of slats, and a plurality of rods disposed in the plurality of top and/or bottom surface grooves where at least one rod is disposed in each of the plurality of top and/or bottom surface grooves. In some embodiments, staves are double flanged or rectangular, and rods have a half-round cross-section or triangular cross-section. In other embodiments, a gasket may span the periphery of the barrel lid, for example, along a lip thereof. In some embodiments, a locking ring is utilized to secure wine barrel lid to the container or drum.

Disclosed herein is a process for the conditioning of wood barrels, in particular, a process for the rapid conditioning of wood barrels. The disclosed process may comprise one or more steps comprising: subjecting a wood barrel to heat to increase the temperature of the wood; contacting the heated internal surface of the wood barrel with a fluid additive; and then optionally: subjecting the interior of the wood barrel to a pressurised environment; and/or subjecting the wood barrel to further heating; repeating one or more steps; and allowing the wood barrel to cool, or cooling the wood barrel, to provide a conditioned wood barrel. Also disclosed is another process comprising the step of providing a bladder and a liquid additive within the interior of a wood barrel for a predetermined time to facilitate absorbing the additive into the wood, wherein the bladder reduces the interior volume of the wood barrel such that the liquid additive is in contact with the internal surface of the barrel. Also disclosed herein are conditioned wood barrels and uses thereof.