Used Barrel

[FasterHorses]

I have an opportunity to get a WT barrel from a local  that did a RR pick. Looks like a cool thing to own but Is it worth the trouble.. Is it one of those things you eventually take to the dump? Ive read that they slowly dry out, leak and fall apart even  if kept inside. Ive seen some great looking ones sitting inside stores  though. $90

[Paddy]

^^^It's a great price and should last for years! 

[JCwhammie]

I would definitely buy that, especially since it's my favorite distillery.

You have options, like taking the barrel heads off and making them into wall art. You can take the staves and cut them into legs for a table with the barrel head as the table top. You can have your name carved into the staves, turn them into a sign, and hang it in your bar area. 

 

Or you can keep it in tact. 

 

So, yeah, go buy it. 

[FasterHorses]

How strong is the bourbon smell if you bring it into the house? Overwhelming or hardly noticeable? 

[fishnbowljoe]

I agree, great price. If it were me, I’d grab it. There is at least one other barrel thread where you might be able to get some ideas about what to do to/with your barrel to help it last.
 

Biba! Joe

 

 

[BMartin42]

I’d grab it for sure at the price. Even if you just cut it in half and use it as planters you break even.

[FasterHorses]

28 minutes ago, fishnbowljoe said:

I agree, great price. If it were me, I’d grab it. There is at least one other barrel thread where you might be able to get some ideas about what to do to/with your barrel to help it last.
 

Biba! Joe

 

 

Thanks Joe.. perfect thread.. i looked in the wrong forum I guess. Some great barrels and projects in there. Did you end up keeping yours intact or cutting in half?

[fishnbowljoe]

My barrel is still intact. I’m still not sure what I’m gonna do with it. We bought a nice, large fire table for our back patio, so no more need there. I also did some landscaping out front with new planters, etc., so no need there either. My wife and I actually discussed possibly making an end table out of it. Stay tuned.

 

Biba! Joe

 

[Curtis Reed]

I have a Four Roses barrel signed by Jim Rutledge in my lounge. I love it

[EarthQuake]

Barrels want to be wet, when the staves are saturated with liquid, they swell which creates a seal and keeps the barrel together. As the barrel dries out the staves will shrink, if the metal rings aren't attached in some way, the barrel will eventually collapse (I'm not sure on the time frame for this though). Some people screw the rings on to keep the barrel from falling apart (this will create gaps between the staves as it dries). Finishing the barrel (inside and out ideally, which would be difficult) with polyurethane or something like that to create a seal should help to keep it from drying out completely, and gluing the staves together would probably look better than screwing the rings on. Though even sealed and glued up it will likely still shrink over time, so you may need to tighten the rings at some point.

 

Alternatively, you could fill it with water to make sure the staves are always saturated, but I would be worried about leaks.

[The Black Tot]

Break it up and use the stave portions for finish flavoring on your charcoal grill.

[WhiskeyBlender]

3 hours ago, EarthQuake said:

Barrels want to be wet, when the staves are saturated with liquid, they swell which creates a seal and keeps the barrel together. As the barrel dries out the staves will shrink, if the metal rings aren't attached in some way, the barrel will eventually collapse (I'm not sure on the time frame for this though). Some people screw the rings on to keep the barrel from falling apart (this will create gaps between the staves as it dries). Finishing the barrel (inside and out ideally, which would be difficult) with polyurethane or something like that to create a seal should help to keep it from drying out completely, and gluing the staves together would probably look better than screwing the rings on. Though even sealed and glued up it will likely still shrink over time, so you may need to tighten the rings at some point.

 

Alternatively, you could fill it with water to make sure the staves are always saturated, but I would be worried about leaks.

@FasterHorses, @EarthQuakeis spot on about what the fate of the barrel will be if it is not finished. Barrels can dry out very quickly, so you don't want to leave it too long or it will fall apart. 

[KyleCBreese]

2 hours ago, The Black Tot said:

Break it up and use the stave portions for finish flavoring on your charcoal grill.

I got some MMPS finishing staves from my favorite store’s pick and I plan to use them in the smoker. 

[Bourbon Sabbath]

7 hours ago, EarthQuake said:

 

 

Alternatively, you could fill it with water to make sure the staves are always saturated, but I would be worried about leaks.

Keep in mind, a barrel filled with water will weigh at least 500 pounds. 

Edited December 31, 2019 by Bourbon Sabbath

[FasterHorses]

Went to look at these yesterday and they werent that great. No cool markings or even anything that indicated it was Wild Turkey. He says they get rid of all of theirs and just keep checking.. maybe I’ll luck into a better one in the future. 

[The Black Tot]

4 hours ago, FasterHorses said:

Went to look at these yesterday and they werent that great. No cool markings or even anything that indicated it was Wild Turkey. He says they get rid of all of theirs and just keep checking.. maybe I’ll luck into a better one in the future. 

 

The charcoal grill don't care what they look like...

[Curtis Reed]

I live in Arizona (can’t get much drier) and my barrel is fine. Every couple of months I see if the rings are loose, and if they are I just pound them farther down the barrel with a block of wood.  It won’t fall apart. You can see in photo the old rings marks and the adjustment I have made to it. 

Edited January 1, 2020 by Curtis Reed

[flahute]

37 minutes ago, Curtis Reed said:

I live in Arizona (can’t get much drier) and my barrel is fine. Every couple of months I see if the rings are loose, and if they are I just pound them farther down the barrel with a block of wood.  It won’t fall apart. You can see in photo the old rings marks and the adjustment I have made to it. 

Is your HVAC system pushing any humidity in the house?

[Bob_Loblaw]

On 12/30/2019 at 6:27 PM, The Black Tot said:

Break it up and use the stave portions for finish flavoring on your charcoal grill.

Yep. I got a WT barrel in the garage  and plan on breaking it down eventually. Don’t have the tools atm. The barrel head signed by all of us and Eddie will go on my wall. The rest will be dried and cut into chunks for the smoker. 
 

Bourbon Barrel smoked ribs/pulled pork/chicken just sounds great, regardless of whether any bourbon flavor is imparted. 
 

Personally, I’d pass at $90. From what I’ve seen of the OPs fall finds you seem to have plenty of great store relationships. I’d try to get a barrel from one of them as the empty barrel should ship with every store pick.