What could be a better memento for a whiskey lover than a Jack Daniels whiskey barrel? Not only are these barrels a powerful reminder of the brand, but many were even used to brew the whiskey, giving them a rich and familiar smell. Of course, getting Jack Daniels whiskey barrels is only part of the story. You also need to work out what to do with them.
The simplest option is to make a garden planter using half a whiskey barrel. This is a popular approach and the whiskey barrels really do look amazing in your garden – especially if you choose the right plants to go in them.
Still, the garden planter idea has been done time and time again. It works well enough, but it isn’t that interesting. Besides, doing so puts the whiskey barrels in the garden, rather than inside, where you can admire them better. So, what else can you do?
There’s actually an endless selection of whiskey barrel projects. Some of these are simple and could be created in just an afternoon. Others take much more time and finesse, but give you a truly stunning product.
If you don’t have a Jack Daniels barrel, no worries. Many of these projects will work just as with another type of whiskey barrel or even a wine barrel.
What Can You Do With Jack Daniels Whiskey Barrels?
Brew Beer In Them
Homebrewing is one of the most common reasons for picking up used whiskey barrels. Not surprisingly, the barrels provide extra flavor to your beer, making it much more exciting. Many types of beer can be aged using whiskey barrels, including stouts and IPAs.
It’s often possible to use the same barrel for multiple batches of beer. However, you can’t normally use the same barrel indefinitely, as it will tend to sour over time. This means you’ll need to regularly replace your whiskey barrels. Those no longer good for beer could easily be used for other projects on this list.
Age Whiskey In Them
You can actually age whiskey at home using whiskey barrels as well. The biggest catch is the size of the barrel – as the technique mightn’t work so well if you have a small amount of whiskey and a large barrel.
Still, if you don’t have much whiskey, you could try placing it in a jar instead and using a whiskey barrel stave. The stave offers the same flavor as a full barrel, but is much easier to use.
Use Them As Planters
Using a whiskey barrel as a planter is exceptionally easy. All you need to do is cut the barrel to shape, drill some drainage holes, fill it first with rocks and then with soil.
Many people cut across the width of the barrel, which gives you two fairly deep circular pots with flat bases. These pots are then easy to place anywhere in your garden.
However, you can also cut across the length of the barrel instead. This gives you a larger area for planting and a shallower flower pot. The catch is that you will need to find a way to support the planter, as it now has a rounded base.
Make A Seat
There are endless ways to make seats from whiskey barrels. The pictured version is a fantastic example if you want the whiskey barrel idea to dominate It looks like you’d need at least two whiskey barrels to make this piece fully pop, but why not go for broke?
If you’re interested in this idea, take a look online, particularly on Instagram and Pinterest. Because there are so many styles, it should be easy to find one that matches your aesthetic desires and skill level.
Try A Barstool
Here’s another riff on the whiskey barrel seat idea. This time the creation is much subtler, as it mostly relies on whiskey barrel staves, rather than full whiskey barrels.
Using staves also means that you get more chairs out of each barrel. This could be perfect if you’re on a budget. What’s more, these chairs even look comfortable.
Or A Table
Why stop with chairs when you can make a table from a whiskey barrel as well? This is a project that could be as simple or as complex as you like. After all, an upended whiskey barrel on its own works well as a table.
The pictured version works fantastically well, as it’s fairly simple and elegant, yet still makes a statement. Of course, that’s just one of many styles. You could keep things simple or let your imagination go wild.
A Fire Pit
How’s this for a fire pit? It looks fantastic, especially with the four bar stools surrounding it. Plus, the design displays the entire whiskey barrel, giving you the chance to fully admire it. That isn’t the case with many of the other creations on this list.
Make An Alcohol Cabinet
What could be better than using a whiskey barrel to store alcohol? You could do so by filling the barrel with ice and using it as a cooler for parties (just don’t forget a hole for drainage). However, this elegant whiskey cabinet is an even better idea.
Of course, you don’t need to store bottles of spirits in the barrel. It’s a cabinet, so you can put whatever you like in there.
Rocking Chair
Here’s another chair made from whiskey barrels. This one would take more work than many others, but it’s seriously worth every minute. Besides, a chair like this could bring you joy for many years.
The cool thing is that you don’t need to make chairs like this yourself. Some companies now make such products regularly and sell them to customers. The only catch is that many such chairs won’t specifically use Jack Daniels barrels. Still, for a design like this, the type of barrel doesn’t really matter.
Or A Liquor Shelf
Whiskey barrel liquor shelves come in plenty of designs. This one is minimalistic and uses barrel staves to form the shelves. There’s a lip along the bottom too, which is perfect for displaying figurines or other small keepsakes.
Others feature the whiskey barrel lids as backing, with shelves built on top. That style is particularly good if the barrel has the company’s logo on it.
Create A Clear Topped Coffee Table
Using glass on the top of a whiskey barrel table is a great way to show the barrel off. This one takes things even further by including a huge collection of wine corks, plus Jack Daniels and some wine.
Other versions use a combination of straw and wine corks. That style doesn’t look quite as nice, but is perfect if you don’t have many wine corks.
Also, like with the planters, you can make a round table like this or a long rectangular one if you cut the barrel in the opposite direction. Both styles look fantastic.
Create A Sink Base
Here’s a practical way to use a whiskey barrel – turn it into a sink. Some people take the pictured approach, where the bowl is embedded into the barrel. Others rest the bowl on the top. Either style works well. You might even make a cabinet out of the barrel as well.
Make A Statement Piece
Why not get creative with your whiskey barrel? This light is an amazing example. It’s certainly a statement piece and is also functional.
The design is also unusual because it relies on the metal from the whiskey barrel rather than the wood. This means you have plenty of wood left for other projects.
Build A Feature Wall
Here’s a completely different style to consider. It’s a signature wall made using carefully arranged whiskey barrel staves. This would be amazing as a backdrop to a home whiskey bar or perhaps even as part of your kitchen.
What About A Treasure Chest?
This fun project is a treasure chest made out of a whiskey barrel. It’s one of many examples of the style and makes a fantastic place to store keepsakes. This would also be an excellent gift – perhaps for a 60th or for someone’s retirement.
A particularly good trick is to fill the chest with ice and use it to store drinks at a party. This way the chest doesn’t just look good, it’s also being used regularly.
Or A Bookshelf?
This bookshelf was made using a wine barrel, but it would be easy to make something similar with a Jack Daniels whiskey barrel instead. You might even be able to get two or three shelves out of the same barrel.
One cool thing about this design is the red coloring on the inside of the barrel. This is an excellent contrast and really makes the piece stand out.
Make A Plane
Products made from whiskey barrels are often very functional, but they don’t need to be. Sometimes you might want something fun instead, like the pictured plane.
This looks like it has been designed a little like a hobby horse or rocking chair. That approach could make the plane even more fun for kids. The whole thing creates great photo opportunities too.
Or A Bike
Here’s another fun style if you’re looking for something ornamental. The catch is that you’ll need a large barrel and a small one to pull it off, plus some extra staves.
While making this thing would take plenty of work and a decent amount of wood, the end result speaks for itself. There can’t be too many of these bikes in the world.
Another Plane?
The plane we mentioned before was for kids, while this one takes an adult focus instead. It doesn’t seem to do anything, but it’s certainly a fantastic display piece. You might display something like this in the garden or even in a man cave (if yours is large enough).
You could easily play with the design too. For example, you might want to make a more steampunk-style plane than the pictured version. The sky’s the limit – truly.
Try A Coffee Table
This coffee table follows a fantastic style, with half a whiskey barrel at the base, plus a table top that looks like it has been made from whiskey barrel wood.
You end up with a table that looks good and is highly functional. It would also be a fantastic conversation piece. You could even make this like the pictured version, where there’s a secret compartment under the table.
A Bike Stand
This whiskey barrel creation doesn’t just look good, it’s also extremely practical. Admittedly, it would be more useful at a bar than at home, but who knows? If many of your friends cycle regularly, you might want a bike stand like this at your home.
The design has another cool feature too – you get to really see the whiskey barrel. This is perfect if you have a Jack Daniels barrel that you want to show off.
Here’s A Simple Chandelier
This chandelier was actually made using a wine barrel stave, but could just as easily be made using a whiskey barrel. The construction is incredibly simple, as we’re just walking about a barrel stave with holes drilled into it.
Of course, the barrel isn’t the whole story here. Using rustic light bulbs like these is the perfect way to make the chandelier really stand out.
Build Your Own Water Fountain
What about making some kind of water fountain from your whiskey barrel? Some versions are simple, like the pictured fountain which just uses half a whiskey barrel and a tap to pour the water into it.
There are plenty of more complex ones too, sometimes with water flowing from one barrel to the next. The great thing is that there’s no right and wrong. You can let your creative talent fly. Besides, the best style will vary depending on the theme of your garden.
Try A Whiskey Barrel Cajon
This one requires some specialized knowledge, as it’s a working drum made using a whiskey barrel. Still, it would be an amazing way to stand out when playing music. You might even be able to find a company that makes these.
Make A Racing Car
Finally, here’s a fun project if you have kids. A single whiskey barrel forms the body of this little car. There are real wheels attached too, which should mean that you could even push the kids around in this if you wanted. I love the attention to detail with this thing, including the little step up and box on the back.
Some people have even gone the extra mile with this idea (literally) and made little racing cars out of whisky barrels. You’d need some engineering expertise for that approach, but it’s still an amazing idea.
How To Buy Jack Daniels Whiskey Barrels
From The Lynchburg Hardware and General Store
Buying Jack Daniels whiskey barrels is surprisingly easy, as the company uses new barrels each time and always puts the old ones up for sale. The easiest approach is to visit Lynchburg and buy them from the Lynchburg Hardware and General Store, in Lynchburg, Tennessee.
This store is Jack Daniels’ alternative to having a gift shop at the distillery itself and it sells a huge range of Jack Daniels products. Their selection includes whiskey barrels, shirts, coasters, and almost anything else you can imagine.
Unfinished barrels tend to cost around $120, while finished ones come in at around $170 instead. However, these are just estimates, as the prices vary over time.
Barrels are sometimes sold on the Jack Daniels site, but not often, so shopping online isn’t a reliable approach. While there is a section called ‘buy a barrel’, this is actually a personalized tasting program, where it’s possible to select a particular barrel of whiskey, then have this bottled for you.
A Specialty Online Company
The Lynchburg Hardware and General Store is perfect if you’re visiting the Jack Daniels distillery or if you live near the area. But, they don’t ship, so the store is frustrating if you’re in a different state.
Thankfully, a variety of online companies sell whiskey barrels as well. Many of these carry many different types of whiskey and wine barrels, giving you plenty of options for every project.
What’s more, these companies often ship barrels straight to you, allowing you to get them anywhere in the country. Prices are surprisingly reasonable too.
The catch is that Jack Daniels whiskey barrels aren’t a guarantee. You might occasionally get lucky, but other times you’ll need to settle with whiskey barrels from other companies.
Etsy, Amazon And Similar Sites
You may also find Jack Daniels barrels resold on sites like Etsy, Amazon, and eBay. Prices vary considerably, as does the quality, so it’s important to check the listing closely and make sure it actually offers what you think it does.
Etsy is most helpful if you’re looking for parts of whiskey barrels, like the staves. These also tend to be cheaper and easier to ship than a full barrel. Plus, some of the projects on this list don’t require a full barrel anyway.
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