We advise
To ensure a long life for your new cask, please follow these instructions carefully.

You must put your cask into use as soon as you receive it.

Fill your cask with water and let stand for a maximum of 24 hours. 

This swells the oak to create a tighter seal.

 (NB If water is left in the cask for a longer period, it will become stagnant and may begin to produce bacteria and rot the timber)

Empty the water once the cask has sealed and fill with your choice of fortified wine or spirit.

The cask must be kept as full as possible at all times, never any lower than half full, to ensure there is no timber shrinkage that may then cause leakage.

We recommend topping up your cask regularly every fortnight, giving you optimal results, the oak is kept wet and evaporation loss is kept to a minimum.  you also start to blend your contents this way and produce a much better drink.

 levels in the casks are low for an extended period, the timber may start to dry out on top, causing leakage problems when filled.

If your cask has started to dry out, you may feel timber movement on the outside of the cask and the hoops may become loose.  This can be repaired, but is not covered by warranty and thus a charge may apply.

Bundy Kegs have a warranty period of twelve months and covers your cask for any faulty workmanship or materials.  Please contact us immediately if you have any problems with your cask.

Under no circumstances should your cask be placed or submerged in water. This will lead to damage and may void your warranty.

 THE  HISTORY  OF  SCHMEIDER'S  COOPERAGE 

&  COOPERING  IN  BUNDABERG

In 1970, Dave Schmeider gained a four-year apprenticeship with the Bundaberg Rum Distillery. His trade involved the repairing the old kegs used for the transportation of the rum and from time to time, he also hhelped with the construction and  maintenance work on the large maturation vats.

Dave was the last cooper to learn the trade at the Rum Distillery, and in the early 1980's, the Rum Distillery installed their bottling plant so the trade then died as all the rum was bottled before shipment. As Dave loved his trade, he decided to see if he could keep it alive by starting his own business. With his wife Pam, Schmeider's Cooperage began on the 7th November, 1982.  Starting with a small workshop at the rear of their home, the trade was once again alive. Over the past 25 years, Schmeider's Cooperage has gained in both size and recognition.  Dave has trained a number of apprentices, and it is now these former employees that keep the trade alive as they now run the business, which has changed its name to BUNDY KEGS. Dave is now kept busy with 4 full time labourers installing new American Oak maturation vats at the Bundaberg Rum Distillery, and with the upkeep of other areas.
At Bundy Kegs,  this unique trade can be watched daily as the coopers make their barrels in the workshop and the full process can also be seen on video. A large selection of finished kegs, keg furniture and accessories are aavailable in our bar room and our friendly staff are only to pleased to answer any questions about our product or the trade.

Also at Bundy Kegs, you can sample some of Queensland's finest wines.  Free tastings and cellar door sales are available daily and you can select from the ranges of the following wineries -

RIVERSANDS VINEYARD  -  ST. GEORGE

WONBAH WINERY  -  MT.  PERRY

STANTON'S  ESTATE  -  CHILDERS

ROMAVILLA  WINERY  -  ROMA

GREAT RECIPE IDEAS FOR YOUR KEG
Over the years, we have heard many strange and wonderful recipes that people have used & discovered in their casks.  Our American White Oak casks are suitable for any fortified wine, i.e.- Port, Muscat, Sherry or Spirit.

Whatever you put into your cask, the flavour will improve. The oak will mature and smooth out the contents.  Most cheaper priced ports have been stored in fibreglass or stainless still containers, so you will quickly notice a marked improvement after storing in your Oak cask. The nicer the Port (and usually the more expensive) means that the winery has stored it longer in Oak.  You can of course achieve this yourself by starting with the cheaper Port, storing it in your cask, and by adding other fortified wines or spirit.  Maturation works very fast in the smaller kegs and in a 4 litre cask, a cheap port will be starting mature within 4 to 6 weeks.  Similarly, an 8 litre will see vast improvements within 6 to 8 weeks, and a 20 litre keg will take about 3 to 4 months.

The most popular blend is Port and Rum. Famous from the seafaring days of old, it is a traditional winter warmer, and of course, helps give you a good night sleeps.  It is best to start with small quantities when adding.  You can then add more to your own taste if required.  We recommend starting with 1/2 cup to 4 litres, but some people do prefer half and half.

Other popular additives are brandy, Muscat liqueur, rum liqueur and green ginger wine.

Spirits, such as Rum, Scotch and Bourbon will also improve in an oak cask.  The spirit well become mellower with age.  Please make sure you can't leave your spirit in the cask for too long without touching it.  If it is left for too long (six to twelve months), it can go to the other extreme and have too much wood flavouring.  We recommended once you have your contents to a matured flavour you like, start drinking and top up your cask regularly.  The other alternative is to decant the contents into a bottle, and you can then start maturing another blend in you keg while you drink from the bottle, (but please use a glass!!!). Once you decant into a bottle, the contents will stay at that maturation point.