When Drinkers Craft: 15 Whiskey Barrel Ideas

Love bourbon and whiskey? Maybe you also love rustic decor and repurposing old materials to make new and interesting things. If this is you, then it’s time to jump on board the repurposed whiskey barrel trend!

Whiskey Barrel and mallet, two items necessary when considering used whiskey barrel ideas — Photo: Shutterstock

You love drinking whiskey. AND you also adore an excellent craft project. What happens when these two passions collide? It’s an opportunity to re-purpose beautiful oak whiskey barrels into something rustic and unique for your home, like an outdoor planter or rocking chair.

There are so many ways to reuse these beautiful, traditionally oak, barrels. Once they are retired from storing whiskey, they can take on a new life. Whether you keep the whiskey barrel intact or create a completely new piece by deconstructing the barrel, the result will be truly unique.

Where Can You Find Whiskey Barrels for Sale?

Don’t have a whiskey barrel sitting around? Your best bet is to contact your local distillery. My local distillery, Tuthilltown Spirits, has whiskey cured barrels available for $169.99. Similar pricing is available from online retailers. These are traditional, 53 gallon barrels. Some distilleries are aging their whiskey in smaller, 5-gallon size barrels to speed up the process.

Some projects are small. Others are more complicated. The easiest way to re-use a used whiskey barrel is to top it with a tempered glass circle for a tasting table!