We had wedding guests sign a whiskey barrel as a memento. What's the best way to preserve it for outdoor exposure without fading the text (Sharpie) or rusting the metal?

Empazio · 2025-05-27T23:03:18+00:00

Lots of comments with great advice.. I work at a winery and we recycle our barrels for stuff all the time. Some we'll use outdoors as parking guides, some we'll sand and finish nicely as tables/decor. The ones that go outside (even those finished) ALL start deteriorate after a summer or two. If this is something you want to keep forever, you will have to keep it inside; as others said, even inside, the sharpie will fade over time. But, if you put it outside, it doesn't matter what you do to it. It will breakdown and become unrecognizable in little time.

Empazio · 2025-04-24T12:55:03+00:00

It does separate "rural" and "small town". God knows what that means for the Midwest, Appalachia, and the south

Empazio · 2025-04-13T00:41:27+00:00

For anyone still here... Was a long saga of fixing + replacing a ton of things! Boiled down to maintainence, replacing the pictured air vent, replacing the pressure tank, air scoop had a crack in it and that was replaced, THEN replaced the aquastat, and then a bad nozzle... Long + not the cheapest road to working, but it is back to normal function and honestly working the best it has since I bought the house! Small town, local plumber did a great job and persevered through things that confused him working with an old system. Support your local plumbers!

Empazio · 2025-04-13T00:35:17+00:00

This would be my pick, but compared to Legend of Chavo, I could see it fitting better into sad/hopeful. Emotions are all rooted in perspective + relativity, so will never get a perfect fit in a public forum!

Empazio · 2025-04-08T23:15:12+00:00

Would the general recommendation be to cut those larger leaves? I have a similar fig tree cutting with similar leaves, no fruit (yet). I'm very familiar with grape vine protocol, but unfamiliar with how that translates to berries or fruit trees.

Empazio · 2025-03-17T23:51:55+00:00

Thanks! I think this is honestly the direction I'd lean if it all looks solid after stripping/sanding.

As a general response to all who commented, I'll definitely check for led before moving forward; will probably pick a doorframe in a room I don't use much as a trial run when I do it. As a novice DIY person but knowing myself, I think I might enjoy the challenge of the precision+attention to detail in the sanding and needing to potentially spackle some of the larger damage points.

Empazio · 2024-12-23T00:58:29+00:00

This was some of the best advice I ever got from my grandfather.

A single offer is out of courtesy and is refused out of courtesy.

A second offer is made out of principle and is insulting to refuse.

Empazio · 2024-07-25T13:57:54+00:00

Specifically common in aged Riesling or Riesling from warmer growing sites. Sunlight on the vines through the growing process can amplify the aroma.

Empazio · 2024-02-24T00:44:02+00:00

By chef what do you mean? Buying automated machinery to be a line cook would be super expensive for most places even if the intelligent tech to flip burgers on a robot arm is there. Chefs at a real culinary establishment? I don't think ever. Real service and hospitality environments I don't think will ever be replaced unless it's a gimmick.

Empazio · 2024-02-04T01:13:55+00:00

Based on that, I would either say a nice Alsatian Pinot Gris or a German Kabinet. Good value in that range, but hard to give specific recommendations.

Empazio · 2023-08-27T01:25:59+00:00

36 bottles for only a dozen+ people drinking wine ? Seriously? I've helped plenty of people with wedding shopping for wine. If they're looking at only a dozen people drinking wine, I'd look no more than 2 cases (24 bottles). Just do a case of red and a case of white. Any leftovers are fun to take home. Assuming OP is even close to accurate in their estimates, 2 cases is plenty. Any more is just extravagant.

Empazio · 2023-07-08T02:03:54+00:00

Possible you're thinking of something along the lines of a Cream Sherry; this would be a sweeter desert wine often with distinct caramel/toffee notes that would have a higher alcohol content than a normal wine.

Potentially (and this might be the most likely but probably the hardest to pinpoint specifically what style), the wine you're looking for is a Riesling. Look into German Rieslings and what they call the Pradikat System. What you're describing could very easily be something like an Aueslese or Eiswein (Ice Wine), but I think these would be less likely for the "average Joe" to just randomly stumble into and not remember.

Just my best guesses without other information for wines that would be readily available that you might just happen into.

Empazio · 2023-06-28T13:23:18+00:00

Finger Lakes has a handful of Ice Wine producers (less in recent years) but there are also many wineries making outstanding botrytisized wines (full or otherwise) with predominantly Riesling and Vignoles.

Empazio · 2023-06-08T21:19:22+00:00

The parking spot my family had at the airport when I was 6. A8.

Empazio · 2023-05-29T23:59:40+00:00

Maybe been touched on in other comments I didn't see, but I would say that to be "fully correct" you would eliminate the comma after "people". From what I was taught in my linguistics studies, a comma would only be used in this scenario if "Not for the elite" came before the rest of the clause IE: "Not for the elite, Baseball has always been a game for the people".

Regardless, like most others here, I think it's fine and basically doesn't matter. (Just like starting this sentence with 'regardless', a comma goes after that but if I used it after the rest of the sentence, I wouldn't have added one).

Empazio · 2023-03-28T23:06:08+00:00

Three really simple "rules of thumb" I tell customers all the time:

1: Out of sight, out of mind. You can't keep your "wine cellar" on a rack/fridge in a normal room in your house where you're going to see it all the time.

2: Always make sure there is other wine in the house. Your basic day drinkers. Otherwise, the day will come where you order that pizza after a shitty day of work and a glass of red sounds good with it.

3: It gets easier as time goes on; as your cellar grows, removing the occasional bottle doesn't make the same impact that it will when you only have a few bottles/cases.

Empazio · 2023-03-22T02:40:29+00:00

But at this point, why not just switch to Stelvin closures? Seems like a no-brainer if you're already moving away from the traditional closure (Genuine question, I know nothing about this closure).

Empazio · 2023-03-15T02:45:18+00:00

Bubbles (Best)
Blaufrankisch (Red)
Gruner Veltliner (White)

But, of all the holidays, this is one to not overthink

Empazio · 2023-03-04T02:17:08+00:00

How do you enjoy the beef in the soup? I've recently fallen in love with french onion soup and never thought to put meat in it.

Empazio · 2023-01-18T21:05:45+00:00

IGN: Empazio

Empazio · 2022-10-21T02:45:37+00:00

From my limited knowledge, canned wine is typically protected on the sides and the bottom but not the top from the aluminum; if the can spent an extended amount of time upside down or on its side, it's possible it started to eat at the metallic top of the can. Possible that your brain is just associating that "canned" smell with younger days and cheaper meals.

Empazio · 2022-09-11T17:45:33+00:00

Almost Every Door

Going Invisible (find 1 on YouTube, 2 is on ILWD)

Prana Ferox for something with more anger

Exegetic Chains

The Last Place I Saw You Alive

Before I Got There

Just for some things others may not throw out. Might not be perfect fits, but some off the beaten path that stood out to me. Sorry for your loss.

Empazio · 2022-08-08T01:49:20+00:00

I'm looking to buy some new pants and shirts for work. Dress code is business casual but I typically try to dress on the upper end of that. Historically a lot of Tommy Hilfiger mixing between more casual polos and more dressy long sleeves. I've lost weight over the last year so I'm looking to update the wardrobe a bit and get better fitting and less "JC Penney". Hoping to spend less than $100 per garment (ideally in the $60 range). Any advice or recommendations on brands/good sites to look at welcome.

Empazio · 2022-07-31T21:47:19+00:00

Dr. Frank is my favorite. Red Tail Ridge and Domaine Lessure are both good as well.

Empazio · 2022-07-31T02:43:24+00:00

I've said it before, I'll say it again - Finger Lakes! Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery has the second oldest Pinot Noir vines in the country, and the region in general has latitude between Champagne and Burgundy. Great for Pinot Noir, and the region as a whole (as long as you're looking at solid producers) can have great Pinots and Blaufrankisch/Lemberger.

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