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Jim,
LOL! Don't blame you about the microwave stuff. Although the alcohol will be long gone the margins between wood and charcoal will really like the ideal of fire.
Yep, if they've been used in the last few months he's right. In that case you should stack 'um on sticks, dowels whatever to get good air flow around each piece and let them dry for a few weeks before extracting moisture. You might even put some weight on them to keep down the warp. twist and cup.
But, I'll warn ya, you're going to loose quite a bit of it to checking (separation of the face grain) and cracking/splitting no matter what. When they flame those barrels then soak them in the 'Nectar of the Gods' for 6 or 7 years...it sets up weird stresses. They're going to split and crack on the ends. Not much you can do about it at home.
Oh, on the box, you can do it in the shop or in the winter by lining the box with tin foil and putting a flood/heat lamp at the bottom. Gotta be dang careful about fire though. But like Lee said, you'll have the best smelling shop around! Either way you can get it dry enough. 12% is not that low.
chiger,
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