If you’re an avid whiskey drinker, you’ve probably amassed a bit of a collection. But for all the random limited-edition bottles, hard-to-find annual releases, and sought-after allocated bottles sitting on your shelves, you probably have a handful of whiskeys you prefer above all others. Instead of constantly returning to your local liquor store to restock, wouldn’t you rather just buy your own barrel instead? Well, you actually can.
“Whether it’s for investment, building your own brand, or personal consumption, buying a barrel and gives you a completely new experience,” says George Koutsakis, the founder of Barrel Global, which connects whisky and tequila afficionados with distilleries across the world.
There are many barrel programs at distilleries and brands created to help consumers purchase a barrel. But there are a few things you should take into consideration. First, it won’t be cheap. Depending on the type of whiskey and its age, you’ll need to fork over between $5,000 to as much as $20,000. If you think that’s a lot of money, think about how many bottles an average whiskey barrel (after the angel’s share) will create. Depending on how long it’s been aged, it can range between 150 to 200 bottles. That’s an awful lot of whiskey.
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You Can't Keep a Filled Barrel at Home
Also, if you have aspirations to have a full barrel of whiskey maturing in your basement, you can get that thought out of your head right now. There are many rules and regulations about whiskey aging, depending on the state you live in. While you will be able to buy a barrel, you’ll have to settle for it being bottled by the distillery before you get any of it. Some brands require consumers to partner with a retailer to get their bottles. Depending on the program, you’ll probably get to keep the empty barrel, which can make a great conversation piece for your home bar or backyard garden.
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Getting Started
While every distillery and brand has a different process, Barrel Global’s process begins by booking a call with one of its account managers.“Whether you want to start building your own barrel portfolio or if you are aiming to quickly bottle a barrel under your own brand, we will take you through the process of each,” says Koutsakis.
“Your barrels can be stamped or stenciled with a logo or name of your choosing and you can go and visit them when you like. And that’s it: you now own your very own barrel/s of whiskey, scotch or tequila.”
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How Long Does It Take?
It varies from program to program. After you’ve selected your barrel, the distillery will need time to bottle and label it. If it’s done aging, this can take between one to six months (or more). Some brands allow you to pick up your bottles at the distillery, others will ship them to you, and some will ship them to a retailer where you can pick them up.
Photo via Barrel Global
Distilleries with Barrel Selection Programs
Besides companies like Barrel Global, there are many distilleries that offer some form of barrel selection. If you want to go really high-end, Sazerac’s barrel select program that features highly-coveted expressions like EH Taylor, Eagle Rare, Blanton’s, Weller, and Stagg. Four Roses offers private barrel selections, but you need to partner with a liquor store. Jim Beam offers a barrel club for fans of Knob Creek.
Maker’s Mark offers a Private Select program where you can create your own unique expression by finishing a barrel of its cask strength bourbon in specifically selected wood staves. Woodford Reserve has a similar Private Selection program where you can choose between barrels of bourbon, rye, or Double Oaked in a one-of-a-kind, tailored experience. Jack Daniel’s version is the Single Barrel Personal Collection program, where guests visit the distillery and sample barrels before picking out their own.
Other brands that have some form of barrel selection program include Wild Turkey, Journeyman, Pendryn, Amber Lane, and Barnstormer.
If you’re considering purchasing your own barrel of whiskey, your first step is determining what distillery or brand you want to work with. Then, take a deep dive into their program to see if the level of customization, delivery method, timing, and pricing work for you. Finally, contact the brand or distillery and get started. You’ll have more bottles of whiskey than know what to do with in no time. On the plus side, that means you’ve got friends and family’s holiday gifts sorted for the next decade or more.
