Reclaimed Whiskey Barrel Floors

Making flooring from reclaimed wood is nothing new. Yet, making flooring from reclaimed whiskey barrels seems both innovative and brilliant. There is something wonderful about these floors. Warm, rugged, and full of personality, the final product plays great homage to the liquid they once helped age.

Produced and sold by McKay Flooring in the UK, these floors are both beautiful and green. Since the usefulness of barrels in aging liquors is spent after a few batches, reusing them for other purposes is very green. And we have to admit, turning them into flooring is a lot more useful and innovative than cutting them in half and making them into flower pots.

Because of its warm color, its interesting markings, and its engravings these floors will add instant personality to your home. Purchase them direct at through McKay Flooring from $22 a square foot.

Comments (18)

I wonder if they retain the smell as well... having a kitchen that smells like bourbon all day long would be FABULOUS!

oh, also, 200 british pounds per square meter is closer to $35 a square foot.

so, that's totally... reasonable

@staticfritz: But it's green. think how awesome you'll feel standing on them, unloading your groceries from Whole <strike>Paycheck</strike>Foods.

Do folks here realize that whiskey barrels staves aren't straight? it's not like you can knock barrels apart and slap them on the floor...

The staves need to be steamed flat and the edges run thru a joiner to make them into a consistent shape that's suitable for use as flooring. It's obviously a labor-intensive process which adds to the cost.

When I lived in italy, our apartment was on a vineyard property and the floors were all made from the old barrels. It was so wonderful to walk upon them. They were glossed to a high sheen and easy as pie to keep clean. Loved it.

True - this process must be very intensive but I can imagine a lovely result.

If I had the cash, I would TOTALLY do this as it combines my love of hardwood floors and vernacular typography

@DrMcFacekick; I would think they wouldn't retain the smell since they would be sealed so heavily to stand up to traffic... I could be wrong

I don't know. Looks kind of "ghey" to me.

I'm glad I'm not the only one who spotted the fact that it spells "Ghey." That's pretty awesome.

and it's nice to know who the homophobes are on AT as well. FYI: we queer folk spell it "geigh". not ghey. sheesh!

@bepsf More labor intensive than knocking over any tree and slapping it on the floor? Not even remotely

I can't imagine that these wouldn't retain LOTS of boozy smell, sugars to attract bugs, etc. A lot of processing must go into them. Interesting idea for a small area, but it seems a little gimmicky. Could be cool around small bar area or in the kitchen or something.

@DC-

Felling timber is labor intensive, but transporting it and milling it into lumber is not - it's highly mechanized and therefore very cost-effective since much of the labor has been eliminated, particularly in the milling process.

@bepsf As a carpenter, you could hand me a barrel, or point me to a tree and I guarantee I can have useable lumber sooner and with far less effort and cost from the barrel.

This is true in my garage, or in the mill I've worked in for 15 years. Both processes can be "mechanized". The difference is that the barrel is already further along in the harvesting/transporting/rough saw/drying/milling process.

The Whiskey Barrel is no different from a milling standpoint then reclaiming old barn wood. When I price these types of products, believe me, a customer is paying a premium for the NOVELTY. Which, for my own pocket book, Is fine with me.

We purchased half an old wine barrel from a garden center for a rapidly-expanding plant. We left it in the car while having a coffee. The drive home, in a warm car, heavily smelling of whichever red wine it was, was only a little alarming...

and it's nice to know who the homophobes are on AT as well. FYI: we queer folk spell it "geigh". not ghey. sheesh!

It's been five minutes and I'm still trying to work out if designersdesigner is trolling us or genuinely ignorant of internet memes.

As for the floors, I'd imagine that there are after they've been steamed and flattened, their green credentials would be rather dented. Still, they do look cool.

@designersdesigner Hahahaha awesome. I love that so hard.

This flooring and other, less expensive versions, is now available in the US at www.RiverDriveLumber.com