OT-Jack Daniels and Tabasco barrel chips-who knew?

lousubcap

I recently paid a visit to Avery Island and left with a few unanswered questions.  Today I e-mailed the company and received the below information;
1.  We get our supply of barrels from Jack Daniels.  
2.  Barrels are reused for many years, sometimes up to 70 - 80 years.  At the end of their life cycle - we chop up the wood to make wood chips. 
I guess that explains the scarcity of Tabasco barrel chips.  
Learn something new every day.  So if you have access to either for smoking purposes enjoy as the sheer volume of Jack sold compared to Tabasco is at least one or two orders of magnitude greater.  FWIW-

Photo Egg

Funny...i really like the JD wood chunks.

Botch

I'm just finishing another bag of JD chips, and do have an almost full bag of Tabasco chips.  Guess I'll use those sparingly, but the fact that I use up the JD chips so quickly, tells me they're the ones that are preferable (for my tastes, anyway).  
After 70 to 80 years, especially considering a batch of Tabasco is aged so much faster than a batch of JD, would indicate that the original character of the wood, and even the JD, is probably long gone by the time you burn Tabasco chips.  You're probably only getting Tabasco smoke at that point, if that.  
Has anyone tried simply sprinkling fresh Tabasco onto regular lump?  Hmmm.  

lousubcap

@Botch - JD chunks (scarce) and chips (everywhere) are my sole source of "oak" for brisket cooks.   And the only time I have found the Tabasco chips was at the factory.  I may try the above suggested liquid seasoning just to see how it turns out.  After all, if going with Tabasco then "might as well go all in."  Great suggestion.  Thanks-

Botch

Anxious to hear how it turns out, Lou!  

Durangler

https://www.cajungrocer.com/tabascoi-wood-chips-474.html

RRP

Here in Peoria, IL Hiram Walker had a huge distillery for decades. The barrel house where the aging was done was 8 stories tall and they never reused the wooden barrels so getting rid of them was a problem. I remember them selling for a mere $5 a piece. I bought 5 with the idea of cutting them down to make 4 chairs and 1 table. I managed to get them down to my unfinished basement since the stairway was open. I never got around to that project before I finished the basement into a bar, laundry room, bathroom and workshop. By then like the proverbial ship built in jar those barrels would never come out of there again without major effort. When I sold the home I somehow convinced the buyer that he should make the 4 chairs and table so I left them behind! WHEW - dodged that bullet! 

Botch

Durangler said:

https://www.cajungrocer.com/tabascoi-wood-chips-474.html

Wow, I thought Tabasco was aged a few months, no idea it was three years!