50 Litre ex-bourbon barrels have been an enormous enabler during the early years of Kinglake Distillery. These barrels had been empty a few months and have opened up during the hotter weather. Just like a ship, the staves shrink enormously and would leak like a sieve if I tried to fill up now. 

I fired up the boiler and introduce some gentle steam to each one, which slowly swells and seals the gaps.

Picked a good day to be using the steam wand :) If it wasn't hot enough!