larger bourbon barrels

[maple flats]

Have any of you used 53 gal bourbon barrels to make your bourbon barrel aged maple syrup? Looking at barrel costs, it seems I can buy 53 gal barrels for $190 ea. Compared to $140-160 for a 10 gal barrel and $115-130 for 5 gal ones. If you have used a 53 how long did it require to age? I'm thinking that would be too much to bottle at a time, but I could pack it in some 25.5's or even split it to my 16's after aging and just bottle a smaller portion at a time. While my sales have been good, they are not 53 gal at a time good (yet).

[morningstarfarm]

Can't give you an exact time for aging..but..the distillery I work with won't use the large barrels as it takes several times as long to age the bourbon..I would imagine it would be the same with the syrup