Restaurant critic S. Irene Virbila ponders the case of the vexing vinegar spout. Can you help?

This past weekend, I went to Marconda's Meats, the butcher shop in the Farmers Market at 3rd and Fairfax. On the way back to the car, I took a spin around World Market (which I still can't help calling Cost Plus) and spotted this 6-quart glass beverage dispenser for $14.95. I'd been looking for something bigger than a French liter canning jar to expand my red wine vinegar production.

When I was up in Berkeley, I'd investigated buying a wood vinegar barrel at Oak Barrel Winecraft but the prices were more than I was willing to spend. A 1-gallon American oak barrel, for example, is $135, the 2-gallon $145, while a 6-liter French oak barrel is $170, a 10-liter one $200. But they certainly have everything you'd need for making vinegar, even a vinegar-making kit.

For a vinegar-making primer, see food editor Russ Parsons' 1999 article "Mother, May I?" 

The beverage dispenser seemed just the right size and price. Plus, because of the spigot, I could easily remove vinegar without disturbing the precious mother. I transferred my red wine vinegar and mother to the new container and cut a square of cheesecloth to put on top. Perfect!

Three days later the jar started leaking around the spigot. I'm returning it Saturday.

Now what. Anybody have any ideas?

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-- S. Irene Virbila

Follow me on twitter.com/sirenevirbila

Photo by Fred Seidman

Comments

[Russ Parsons]

Thanks for the tip Ron! I just ordered one myself. My wife will be so happy to get that sun tea jug off our kitchen counter.

[monca jean]

Vinegar, being acidic, has probably started to degrade the rubber or soft plastic on the inside of the spigot seal.

[Ron Zimmerman / The Herbfarm]

Yes, I have 7 of these for various vinegars: Porcelain Water Coolers with spouts. They come with a plastic top ring meant to cushion the 5-gallon water carboy. This ring is great for anchoring the cheesecloth across the top.
Link to typical ceramic crock on eBay> http://bit.ly/dG1EIR