| These wonderful pieces are machine carved (not laser engraved or etched like most others) and hand finished designs in reclaimed bourbon barrel heads from many of the great distilleries. The designs are carved in the side that has been charred by the distilleries for the bourbon aging process. That charred oak is what gives bourbon it's distinctive flavor. |  |
To be called a "Bourbon" and not just a whiskey, the colorless unaged distillate (also sometimes called "white dog", "green whiskey", "high wine", "new-make" or one of many other names) must be placed in a new, unused, charred oak barrel. After aging, many of the barrels are sold to other liquor distilleries to age their brands in, like scotch whiskey, Canadian whiskey, or even some craft beers.
Unlike others who are selling bourbon barrel creations that are planed down flat and sanded clean before engraving or silk-screening, mine are left in their original glory, with all of the char, stamps, tags and original markings made by the distillers. I am able to get them, often still wet between the boards and smelling of that sweet nectar. So I drive them very carefully home because the aroma from my car would surely instigate a search and series of questions if I were to get pulled over 🙂.
| Before I even start carving the artwork, I meticulously take apart the barrel head and glue it all back together so that it will remain solid for you in your home as the temperature and humidity change and the wood expands and contracts. The heads are all tongue-in-groove and, in their first life, were held together by pressure from the barrel itself. |  |
Some artists simply nail a piece of wood to the back to hold it together, but I have a hard time covering up all of the distiller's markings and the beautiful oak. So I prefer to put in the extra work to take them apart and glue them back together to preserve that beauty.
The carving reveals the beautiful oak beneath the contrasting charred surface. I have never seen anyone do it like this, and I understand why, it isn’t the easy way to do it. The barrel heads are uneven and show the marks of a life spent making the nectar of the bluegrass. They aren’t perfectly flat, the boards on the carved side do show some gaps from the expansion and contraction they endured while sitting in the rick house through hot Kentucky summers and crazy winters. What I am saying is the character of these pieces is on full display. If you are looking for a nice, flat, bland design for your wall, There are plenty of sellers on Etsy selling those or Home Depot sells great wood circles that can be easily carved, but that’s not what I am doing here. If you are looking for an art piece to hang in your home that shows off your love of bourbon, bluegrass, and all things that make Kentucky one of the greatest places on earth, take a look.
Thanks for taking the time to check out my store and I hope to hear from you soon. I also put up a couple pictures of the back of one of the pieces, so you can see what the overall barrel head might look like. The barrel head shown in this listing is for example purposes only. The barrel heads I use come from many different distilleries and all have different markings and wear, the back, number of boards, and aging of yours may differ in appearance than the picture, but the engraving and craftsmanship will always be top notch. Remember, no two are ever the same.