Bourbon Barrel Adirondack Chairs

•  What kind of wood are the chairs made out of?

White American Oak.  Bourbon distillers are required to age bourbon for a minimum of 3 years in brand new, charred, white (American) oak barrels.

• Why is one side of the wood black in color?

The black coloration of the barrel staves is due to the charring process.  The inside of each barrel is torched after construction to the desired char level in order for the bourbon to receive its distinctive smoky flavors and coloring during the aging process.  

• What’s the process for making this set?

It takes 2 bourbon barrels and several days to complete a pair of these Adirondack chairs.  First, the barrels must be transported to our workshop in Fort Thomas, KY where they are then taken apart, stacked and allowed to dry for several months..  Each barrel stave must then be individually de-charred, cleaned, cut to size, sanded, and protected with 3 coats of high quality UV/mold/water resistant exterior urethane.  The staves are then predrilled, and assembled using exterior glue and ceramic coated exterior screws creating a piece of the highest quality that will truly last a lifetime.  

• What is required to maintain this set?

If stored outside year-round, clean the chairs periodically with a mild soap and water solution, rinse, and dry.  Apply a coat or two of high quality spar varnish according to the manufacturer’s instructions as needed (every few years on average).  

Keep in mind, every aging barrel is custom made by an experienced cooper and no two barrels are the same.  Therefore every chair will be slightly different and have its own unique character.  These are not mass-produced cookie-cutter items from a box store.  What you’re purchasing here is as much a piece of art as it is a very comfortable outdoor furniture set that will last a lifetime.