The barrel ran dry...

[Ross]

I've got an old barrel (about 10 years old) that for years was filled with a great combination of ports, but stuff happened over the past couple of years and it has now all evaporated and ran dry... not cool, I know, but what I want to know is if I can bring it back to its former glory, or is it lost forever??

Any help or insight greatly appreciated!

[jdaw1]

bring it back to its former glory

If you mean the Port, that cannot be re-generated by adding water.

If you mean the barrel, well, it could be used for something. How big is it? What type of barrel is it?

[DaveRL]

Is this the smallish size of barrel that is topped up with youngish port and emptied of the older mixture? What does the inside of the empty barrel smell like?

[Andy Velebil]

There are a lot of issues (conditions) your barrel could be in. I suggest you google how to refurbish an old wine barrel as there is a lot of information out there that could help from people who do it regularly. There tends to be a lot more to it than you think, especially if the staves have started to pull apart and it won't hold liquid anymore. You will also need to clean it out and sterilize it as well.