My Uncle used to make barrels (Cooper) he had a five year apprenticeship, and at the end when they qualified the tradition was to put them in a barrel, with mock tar and real feathers and roll them down the street. My Gran used to have a photo of him standing in the barrel covered in feathers, and drinking a pint of beer, the liquid what would be filling the barells. Along with many others depending on the size of the barrel. Wine is usually kept in French Oak as it allows for a small amount of evaperation in the maturing process. and Whiskey in American White Oak. this allows for a bit more evaperation, which is known as the 'Angels share'. English Oak was to expensive to use for barrel making and was used mainly for funiture. Sorry I could go on for ages about wood, not usually a Woman thing but I was bought up around Carpenters and Coopers.
I can remember vinegar being kept in barrels, and buying it by the bottle at the grocers store.
