- The 1000 Oaks Barrel Co. sells barrels direct to consumers for an expanding range of uses, including the prinipal application - aging wine and spirits.

The wood barrel company says it produces premium quality American white oak barrels for aging wine, beer, tequila, bourbon, whiskey, wine vinegar or any spirit that benefits from aging. Barrels are hand crafted for the home-winemaker, brewer, or distiller, each with a medium char or toast inside to lend flavor to the aging process.

Barrels are also crafted into chests and other furnishings, and the company has begun offering the Thousand Oaks Whiskey Barrel Bar-B-Q Pit for $950. This version comes with a metal lining, naturally.

Barrels range in size - 1, 2, 3, 5, 10, and 20 liters are hand crafted without nails or glue. The staves making up the barrels are air dried for two years; then bound together with hoops, which are available in black steel, steel, or brass. In addition to the barrels, 1000 Aoaks offers kits for cleaning barrels, and even guidance on how to convert vodka into whiskey using flavoring kits. Each barrel ships with a stand, bung and spigot. Barrels will last up to 10 years.