An American History Tale

Whiskey barrels have been used for thousands of years as an essential part of daily life! The history of whiskey barrels is tied to the history of American furniture making because they were used as storage containers by early settlers here in America. Those settlers needed something sturdy to carry their belongings across long distances, while not leaking out any contents during transport.

As a container, the whiskey barrel can be used to transport and store whiskey. It has also been used to store food and water. The inside of the barrel is lined with wood shavings or sawdust to help keep its contents dry, which makes it ideal for transporting firewood as well as containing liquids such as wine or beer during fermentation. For this reason, many homes had at least one spare empty whiskey barrel lying around before refrigeration was invented.

Now, the whiskey barrel is used by more than just distilleries and breweries. They are popular amongst collectors who use them to store collectibles or display items in their homes!

The Past

The first known use of whiskey barrels in furniture-making was around 1700 in Ireland. There they converted stools and other small pieces of furniture that could be used around the home by farmers who had no access to wood, metalworking tools, and money. 

 

Barrel Furniture in Today’s Time 

Barrels are still used today as furniture pieces. Barrel chairs and stools, for example, are popular because of their unique look and feel. They can be made from one or more barrels depending on the style you want to achieve and the amount of money you want to spend.

A barrel table is another option for those who want something more substantial than a simple chair or stool, but don't have room for a full-size piece of furniture.

Barrel cabinets are also common because they offer space-saving storage options while maintaining an industrial feel that fits well with other items like reclaimed wood tables or metal chairs with exposed bolts and screws. 

Jack Daniel's Distillery Significance

Jack Daniel's was the first distillery in America to use a continuous still. They also pioneered charcoal filtering and steam engines, which allowed them to increase production and improve quality. The Jack Daniel's brand is now synonymous with whiskey barrel furniture because of their innovations at the time, but there are many other brands that produce great products as well!

Jack Daniel's has been making whiskey since 1866, when a young man named Jasper Newton "Jack" Daniel began producing his own whiskey from an old family recipe at a site near Lynchburg, Tennessee called, Cave Spring Hollow Farm. He used water from nearby springs and grains grown on his farm along with yeast cultures he had cultivated himself before fermenting them together with sugar cane molasses made locally by another farmer named Dan Callahan who worked closely with him until his death in 1908 at age 72 years old.

Jamison Valley, Tennessee – The Mecca for Home Decorators.

In 1870, Jacob Spears established a distillery in Jamison Valley, Tennessee. It was the first of its kind in the area and quickly became very popular among consumers due to its high-quality product. In 1878, the distillery was bought by Brown family who continued to run it until Prohibition came along in 1920. During this time period, whiskey barrels were often used as tables or chairs because people didn't have much furniture during this time period and wanted something that would last longer than wood or metal pieces would have lasted at those times.

Pappy Van Winkle Bourbon – The Story Behind 

Pappy Van Winkle is a brand of bourbon whiskey produced by the Old Rip Van Winkle Distillery, located in Louisville, Kentucky. It’s sold in a distinctive bottle and has been since its inception in the early 20th century. The original owner of the distillery was Julian "Pappy" Van Winkle Sr., who developed his own recipe for this famous bourbon during his lifetime.

The distinctive shape of this bottle has become iconic over time as it has been copied by many other companies producing spirits like Jack Daniel’s and Jim Beam.

We hope this article has given you some historical background on the significance of Whiskey Barrel Furniture. If you have any interest in custom Whiskey Barrel Furniture, please don’t hesitate to give us a call at 860.643.9191, we would love for our family to create something special for your home!  

From our family to yours,

-The Daigle Family  

Wood & Barrel  

54 Hilliard Street, Manchester, Connecticut 06040

Phone: 860.643.9191

Website: woodandbarrel.co