FAQ's - Used Whiskey Barrels

What is the difference between the used whiskey and used wine barrels? Which is the right choice for me?

Both whiskey and wine barrels can be used in all of the same ways, and for all of the same DIY projects!
When deciding between the two, the decision typically comes down to your preference on appearance, or simply your preference for whiskey or wine as a beverage!
 
The whiskey barrels inherently have a more rustic character and appeal. The wine barrels retain a cleaner, lighter, and newer look, and often have light red wine stains throughout.
 
Either way, you can't go wrong!
 

Do the barrels have distillery markings on them? 

Some of the barrels do have a stamp on the barrel head; other do not. We prioritize the quality of the barrel over finding barrels with particular stamps. 

If you require a stamp, reach out and we can likely help you out!

Can I leave the whiskey barrels outside?

Absolutely! As with most wooden furniture, decks, or siding, wood tends to 'gray' over time if left unprotected. For barrels, this is often a desired appearance.

If you prefer the barrel to retain a darker appearance, I would recommend coating the barrel in an exterior grade polyurethane. 

Will the barrel hold liquid? 

Yes! All of our whiskey barrels are freshly dumped and liquid tight.

Every year, we have a countless number of customers use the whiskey barrels to make rain barrels and other projects that require the barrel to hold liquid.

The key to keeping the barrel liquid tight is to keep some liquid in the barrel at all times. If you let the barrel dry out for an extended period of time, it may lose its seal and need to be 'rehydrated' to reseal. 

Can I refurbish a barrel myself?

Definitely! Its hard work, but a beautiful end product.

In fact, check out our 4-part DIY Series at the link below:

DIY Series: Refurbishing a Whiskey or Wine Barrel

Can you refurbish the barrel for us?

Yes, again! Below is the link to our refurbished whiskey and wine barrels:

Refurbished Whiskey and Wine Barrels

Is there anything we need to do to the barrel once we get it? 

If locating a used barrel indoors, here a few recommendations:

1. As described, the barrels are recently dumped from the distillery. Sometimes the barrels even have a tiny bit of whiskey left inside! To avoid staining any floors, you want to ensure that the barrel is not showing any signs of moisture or dripping from the bottom.

2. Consider cleaning the bottom of the barrel to remove any surface dirt. Also consider putting a small rug underneath the barrel to further protect your floors. 

3. Dry indoor air can often dry out a barrel. This can result in the barrel hoops/bands loosening and sometime shifting or falling. We would recommend securing each hoop to the barrel using sheet metal screws, or drilling a hole and adding a wood screw or nail. 3 fasteners per hoops should do the trick!

Here is a DIY video showing the process we use for securing the hoops to the barrel.