Close-Up on Whiskey Barrel Chairs and Tables

Interview with Barry DeWald, Whiskey Barrel Furniture Maker

By Richard Thomas

My news feed for The Whiskey Reviewer’s Facebook sites is full of distilleries and whiskey brand pages, and if one image appears over and over again in this agglomeration of status statements, it is that of relaxing on the patio and enjoying the scenery with a whiskey in hand (cigar optional). It’s one of the day dream scenarios that seems to unite whiskey-lovers, whether they love scotch, bourbon, rye, Irish, Canadian, or even moonshine.

The appeal of that particularly pleasant image is one I appreciate, so my first thought upon spying the whiskey barrel Adirondack chairs from artisan Barry DeWald was “Aha! What could be better than for relaxing in the garden with my whiskey than sitting in a chair made from old whiskey barrel staves!” As a whiskey-lover’s conversation curiosity, barrel stave furniture is hard to top.

If I still lived in the United States, I might very well have ordered a chair and table right then and there, or at least put it on my Christmas list. Instead, I contacted Barry DeWald, and asked him about his inspired whiskey barrel furniture.

RT: What inspired you to build Adirondack chairs and tables from old whiskey barrel staves?

BW: My inspiration was Popcorn Sutton. I have always been fascinated with the moonshine history of NC and the actual process of making whiskey. My wife and I saw a swing made from stave somewhere and I knew I could make a chair. Being from the coast of NC, we are fond of the Adirondack chairs. I was able to incorporate the entire barrel into the table and chair.

RT: Where do you get your old barrels from?

BW: Flea markets and thrift shops.

RT: How does building chairs from old whiskey staves differ from building a chair from more ordinary material? Are there any special problems, such as protecting the char?

BW: The staves are different widths, so one must consider the different widths for the actual placement of the staves. As well as coming up with a design to [make] use the entire barrel. To protect the char, I sealed it. 

RT: Do they still smell like old whiskey?

BW: They did at first, but now [my] backside does!