A Special Whiskey Barrel Wood Ring
This is a notable cobalt and whiskey barrel oak wood ring, for a couple reasons.
It’s the first ever wood ring that is beveled and hammered, which is cool. But it also has a story. The customer contacted the distillery for the stave he wanted in his wood ring. A surprisingly high up employee in a shockingly well known/large company not only fulfilled his request to provide the wood but also contributed $100 toward the purchase! I was stunned by this generosity.
I don’t want to say who it was only because I don’t want him inundated with requests for wood or contributions. But I wanted to note that cool people like this are out there!
The Original Whiskey Barrel Wedding Ring
Like most woodworkers, I have an appreciation for the whiskeys of the world. Cooperage, that is the making of barrels, is an ancient woodworking tradition that is a critical part of creating a fine whiskey....
Like most woodworkers, I have an appreciation for the whiskeys of the world. Cooperage, that is the making of barrels, is an ancient woodworking tradition that is a critical part of creating a fine whiskey. Naturally, all woodworkers seek to combine these passions in some way. The idea to use a spent whiskey barrel stave for small woodturnings is not mine. Used Jack Daniels wood in particular has been available for small projects for quite a while. However, the practice of using the material for rings is my creation.
After some research, I was able to get my hands on some of the uncut, un-dimensioned Jack Daniel’s cask staves made of American White Oak, and from there the original whiskey barrel wedding ring was born. The bourbon and scotch themed ring quickly became the #1 favorite in my shop amongst customers, and this style has since been featured on many websites such as gizmodo.com , gq-magazine.co.uk , ringtoperfection.com , buzzfeed.com , and uncrate.com .
Distillery Options
Once I secured a steady supply of the Jack Daniel’s barrel staves, I and my customers became obsessed with getting my hands on staves from other brands of whiskeys. Currently, I have over a dozen different distillery options to choose from to customize a whiskey barrel wedding ring:
Jack Daniel’s (Lynchburg, Tennessee)
Woodford Reserve (Woodford County, Kentucky)
Four Roses (Lawrenceburg, Kentucky)
Stranahan’s (Denver, Colorado)
Pappy van Winkle (Frankfort, Kentucky)
Old Rip van Winkle (Frankfort, Kentucky)
Buffalo Trace (Frankfort, Kentucky)
Angel’s Envy (Louisville, Kentucky)
Knob Creek (Clermont, Kentucky)
Jim Beam (Clermont, Kentucky)
Maker’s Mark (Loretto, Kentucky)
Yamazaki (Shimamoto, Japan)
Hibiki (shimamoto, Japan)
Hakushu (Hokuto, Japan)
Dry Fly (Spokane, Washington)
Old Forester (Louisville, Kentucky)
Garrison Brothers (Hye, Texas)
Yellow Rose (Houston, Texas)
Firestone and Robertson (Fort Worth, Texas)
Founders Beer (Grand Rapids, Michigan)
Cedar Ridge (Swisher, Iowa)
High West (Park City, Utah)
Blanton’s (Frankfort, Kentucky)
Blue Ridge (Bostic, North Carolina)
Tuthilltown (Gardiner, New York)
Detroit City (Detroit, Michigan)
Scotch
The Macallan (Moray, Scotland)
Kilchoman (Islay, Scotland)
Balvenie (Dufftown, Scotland)
Laphroaig (Islay, Scotland)
When ordering a whiskey barrel wedding ring, the default barrel stave is Jack Daniel’s. This is what will be used if a specific distillery is not specified in the “wood choice” section at checkout. Be aware that all of these barrel staves, regardless of source, will look very similar in color and pattern, as they are all charred American White Oak (I believe this is law, to be called bourbon (or in the case of The Macallan, scotch, which is aged in USED barrels, versus new barrels for bourbon) and only vary slightly in color from a light blonde to a dark caramel (the darker the stock, the closer that piece was to the charred part of the cask). Even scotch barrel rings specifically, which in the case of The Macallan or The Balvenie may be French oak or sherry cask, the appearance is essentially the same. If you would prefer a darker or lighter piece of the cask, simply place your request in the “notes” section at checkout. I will do my best to accommodate this in your whiskey barrel wedding ring.
Each whiskey barrel ring will have something that is called ray fleck, which runs vertically to the grain of the wood. This is completely normal, and not a flaw in the wood, although to some it may look like the wood is somehow scratched. This is an unavoidable part of using oak! It will appear in your whiskey barrel wedding ring.
Seen here, rather artistically I think, following the lines of the steel from the bottom right toward middle left. See the light lines in the oak? Ray fleck.
There is one exception to the similar coloring and look of the staves in the whiskey barrel wedding rings: Angel’s Envy. This brand is unique in that after the whiskey is aged in the American White Oak casks, it is then finished in port wine casks. This will give the wood a brown/purple hue, which adds a more unique look to the standard whiskey barrel wedding ring. Because I am dedicated to preserving the wine stain in the ring, the wood must be cut a certain way that limits the size of rings using this stave to size 11.5, maximum.
A pair of Angel's Envy Bourbon (sherry cask finished) barrel oak wedding bands
NOTE: Your whiskey barrel wedding ring will NOT come with a certificate of authenticity. Customers have been sourcing their own staves directly from the distillery of their choice for years now. With the exception of scotch brands, who tend to be more stingy, no one has had any trouble getting their own wood. You are welcome, even encouraged, to source your own wood from your own whiskey oak ring!
Style Options
Any of the styles seen in my shop can be made with the whiskey wood. Here are examples of some of the more popular whiskey barrel wedding rings:
Beveled Cobalt Wooden Ring Lined with Bourbon Barrel oak
Beveled Cobalt and Whiskey Barrel White Oak Wood Ring
Cobalt Mokume-Gane Whiskey Barrel Oak Wood Ring
White gold mokume-gane flanked by cobalt, used whiskey barrel white oak interior.
Black Ceramic Ring with Whiskey Barrel White Oak
Whiskey barrel oak flanked by practically unscratchable and non-conductive black ceramic.
If you’re not sure about which metal to choose to go with your whiskey barrel, check out this blog post I wrote about the comparison of metals I offer here. If you need help with other portions of the process to order your whiskey barrel wedding ring, I have a step-by-step guide here.
Don’t see your favorite distillery?
Even though I have a large selection of barrel staves to choose from, there are some I have not yet been able to acquire. If you don’t see a specific brand you want for your whiskey barrel wedding ring, I have had customers in the past have great luck with acquiring their own staves. If you would like to contact your favorite distillery, and have the stave sent to me, I would be more than happy to work with it! If you are able to get ahold of the distillery (via email or phone), I will provide a shipping address for them to ship it directly to me. Please note that it may take some time to receive an answer from a distillery, so make sure you contact them with plenty of time before you need your whiskey barrel wedding ring! Once I receive a stave and your order is placed, it will take about 4-6 weeks for me to complete, and ship your ring.
How to Order a wood Ring
So you’ve finally picked out the metal that’s right for you, and you’ve picked out the perfect wood for your unique wedding ring....
So you’ve finally picked out the metal that’s right for you, and you’ve picked out the perfect wood for your unique wedding ring. You’re ready to place your order! Here, I’ve listed out the steps to take to purchase your one of a kind wooden rings:
Step 1: Getting to the shop.
Follow the link to my shop page. This gives a list of styles of and prices. Don’t see the exact combination you’re looking for? That’s okay! Select the style of the unique wedding ring you are looking for, such as the cobalt wooden ring.
Click the “add to cart” button.
Step 2: Order Form.
You will be presented with the order form like the one shown. It’ll be slightly different for wooden exterior rings as there are fewer options, but it is the same basic principle.
Step 3: Size
The first part you will have to fill out is the size of your unique wedding ring. I offer rings sizes from 4-15 in quarter size increments, meaning that I can make, for example, a size 7.25. Something of importance to note here is that all of my wooden rings are comfort fit, not standard fit! This does have an impact on your ring size so be absolutely sure that you were sized in a comfort fit band by the jeweler.
Comfort fit rings are the most common band type and have a slightly domed interior to provide a more comfortable fit. It is preferred amongst those with large knuckles as the domed interior makes it easier for them to slip the unique wedding ring on. To determine the size of the comfort fit band, the exact middle of the ring is used.
Standard fit rings have a flat interior. To determine the size of the standard fit band, the edge of the ring is used. For this reason, the standard fit ring size is typically about ½ size larger than the comfort fit size. I have found that this style is not ideal for a handmade wooden ring and do not offer this style to my customers.
Note on size: When you get sized, keep a couple things in mind-- your fingers are slightly swollen in the morning (don’t ask me why), your fingers are larger during warm weather, your fingers are larger after a meal (especially salty meals). This means that if you have your finger measured on a chilly evening before dinner, the result will be on the low end of your actual size.
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE BE 100% SURE OF YOUR SIZE BEFORE ORDERING! Wood interior rings can be adjusted up or down about ¼ size (by removing or adding finish to the interior), and wood exterior rings CANNOT BE RESIZED AT ALL! Every ring is made to the exact size provided. An error in sizing that exceeds the margin provided above will necessitate a completely new ring. REFUNDS AND EXCHANGES WILL NOT BE POSSIBLE. BE 100% SURE OF YOUR ACCURATE AND CORRECT SIZE BEFORE ORDERING.
Step 4: Width
I get a lot of questions regarding width, and which would be best for the customer’s unique wedding ring. In every listing, I have a recommended width chart:
Recommended width is calculated in this way: Size 5 is 5mm wide. Width increases .5mm per size above that. So:
Size 5- 5mm
Size 6- 5.5mm
Size 7- 6mm
Size 8- 6.5mm
Size 9- 7mm
Size 10- 7.5mm
Size 11+ - 8mm
There are some wooden rings that are exceptions to this rule, such as the black ceramic and tungsten styles, which are only available in 6mm and 8mm, and others, such as the cobalt mokume-gane, which only come in a 6mm width. The Hand-wrought Twisted damascus steel is another exception- the default width for this unique wedding ring is 6mm. I do offer 7mm and 8mm for this style, however there is a $40 upcharge per 1mm. These are separate listings you will have to add to your cart before checking out. For 7mm, click here. For 8mm, click here.
If you are a larger size, for example a size 11.5, but you prefer a smaller width for your unique wedding ring, you are more than welcome to select any width between 5mm-8mm. Please keep in mind that a smaller width will have a slight impact on your ring size, so it is important to get sized in the width you plan on ordering and ideally, try on a ring of the appropriate size and width before ordering. Again, wooden rings cannot be resized, and returns and exchanges will not be possible.
Step 5: Profile
I offer three different types of profiles for my unique wedding rings-- flat, domed, and beveled. Here is an example of the different profiles:
Flat (left), domed (right). Black zirconium lined with exhibition grade Arizona Desert Ironwood Burl
Beveled. Black zirconium with special grade Cocobolo Rosewood
This is a cosmetic customization for your wooden ring that will not impact size or fit. This purely depends on which is more comfortable for the wearer of the unique wedding ring. There are a few exceptions for this customizations: any wooden exterior rings will have a flat profile, and the damascus steel rings are only available in the profile shown. The best way to figure out which profile is best for you is to try a few on at a store when you get sized.
Step 6: Finish
This is another cosmetic customization for your unique wedding band ring that will not impact size or fit. This is also limited to the wooden interior rings, with the exception of damascus steel. For cobalt I offer three finishes-- satin, polished, and hammered:
Polished finish, domed profile cobalt ring lined with Bethlehem Olivewood
Hammered finish, flat profile, cobalt ring lined with bourbon barrel stave
For black zirconium I offer two finishes, satin and polished:
Satin finish, flat profile black zirconium lined and Ancient Russian Bog Oak
Polished finish, flat profile black zirconium ring lined with exhibition curly Koa
And finally, for titanium I offer three finishes-- polished, satin, and stone:
Step 7: Wood Choice
The final customization for your unique wedding band is the wood choice. My selection of woods is far too vast to list, but to get an idea of what I have in stock, browse around my website and Instagram.
If you’re looking for a specific kind of bourbon barrel for your wooden ring, I have a list of what I currently have in stock here.
If you have a piece of wood that holds meaning to you, I would be happy to work with it! I have done many projects where the customer sent a piece of wood and the results have been amazing! Check out some of these examples:
Satin finish, domed profile cobalt wood ring with Gibson headstock.
Satin finish, flat profile black zirconium wood ring with skateboard deck
Cobalt wood ring with wine barrel stave
Step 8: Check-out
You’ve gone through all of the customizations for your new wooden ring, and now it’s time to proceed to check-out. You will be brought to a page where you can enter your contact and shipping information (note: please understand that my turnaround time for your unique wedding ring is about 6 weeks as every ring is custom made to order. If you are moving during this time, please enter the address that you want it delivered to within that time frame. Also, please please PLEASE double check your shipping address and make sure you put in the CORRECT address!)
Important note on ship date: If you need your ring sooner than the 6 week turnaround time I do offer rush order, which will have your order shipped within 21 days. This is a separate listing that you will need to add to your cart before you checkout! To add rush order, click here.
Once you fill out your contact and shipping information, you will be shown a few different delivery options:
USPS priority mail usually takes about 2-3 business days. USPS Express mail takes about 1-2 business days. International orders take between 3-6 business days.
For customers outside the US:
Due to changes in USPS policy, international packages sent to countries other than Canada can no longer be tracked past the US border. Insurance claims are also not possible. Due to this change and for your protection, international customers outside of Canada will be required to pay for USPS Global Express shipping ($60.95), which in addition to guaranteeing arrival within 3-6 business days (excepting intervention from your country’s customs department), also can be tracked and insured. I wish I could offer a more economical solution, but cheaper options are too risky.
International customers are responsible for all fees associated with shipping to their respective countries. Orders that are shipped to countries outside of the United States may be subject to import taxes, customs duties and fees levied by the destination country. The recipient of an international shipment may be subject to such import taxes, customs duties and fees, which are levied once a shipment reaches your country. Additional charges for customs clearance must be borne by the recipient; I have no control over these charges and cannot predict what they might be. Customs policies vary widely from country to country; you should contact your local customs office for further information. When customs clearance procedures are required, it can cause delays beyond the original delivery estimates. It is against the law and I will not mark an item as a “gift” to avoid any fees.
Step 9: Sit tight, your ring is on its way!
Now that you’ve placed your order for your wooden ring, sit back and relax! Soon you will receive an automated confirmation email, letting you know that I’ve received your order and have noted any customizations. Your order will be shipping within 6 weeks for a regular order, and 21 days for a rush order. Be patient! In practice, I typically ship 1-2 weeks early, but it is not something I can always guarantee. When your order is ready for shipment, you will receive an email with a USPS tracking number and pictures of your unique wedding ring! Please do not send me emails at the one week, two week, or three week mark for updates! I understand you’re excited about your ring, but please understand that I am a one man show, and taking time to answer your emails for an update request takes time away from the shop, and time away from creating your ring. Should any problems or changes occur during the production process, I will email you immediately and let you know.
Thank you for your order!
The Yamazaki, The Hakushu, Hibiki for use in my wood rings.
I am absurdly excited to have acquired wood from Suntory whisky, which includes The Yamazaki (a personal favorite), The Hakushu, and Hibiki, which was recently rated #1 whisky in the world. These are used barrel staves that have been converted into floor planks (by Suntory, and sold through their website here: https://ssl1.suntory.co.jp/apl/oss/taru_shop/cat/plist/prms/s_class_id__tars000160)
A customer was kind enough to have these sent to me to make her wooden ring. I expected a few planks, but got enough to accommodate several hundred world whisky enthusiasts.
You can see the dozens of style options for your custom wood rings in my shop section.
New Distilleries Available! Four Roses and Stranahan's
I can't tell you how grateful I am when distilleries respond favorably to my customers' requests for wood for use in their wood rings. Most recently, two companies have been kind enough to send me whiskey barrel staves on customers' behalf: Four Roses, a brand I think needs little introduction; Stranahan's, a craft distillery in Denver, CO, who were so cool as to include a couple shot glasses and stickers when they sent their stave. I have not had the pleasure of trying their whiskey (if I see it, Im buying it) but I can vouch for their oak. Solid, top quality material.
These two join a list of available barrel stave choices that is getting a little silly: Jack Daniel's, Woodford Reserve, Four Roses, Stranahan's, Pappy van Winkle, Old Rip van Winkle, Buffalo Trace, Angel's Envy, Knob Creek, Jim Beam, Maker's Mark, and The Macallan. Phew! To design your custom whiskey barrel wooden ring, take a look at my shop
Excited About Angel's Envy
If you are a bourbon fan and you haven't had Angel's Envy, you need to address that situation, posthaste.
With some regularity my customers contact me, loving the idea of a ring lined with a bourbon barrel but not seeing their preferred distillery among my options (Jack Daniel's, Jim Beam, Woodford Reserve, Buffalo Trace, Maker's Mark, and The Macallan [scotch, of course]). Usually the company they seek is very accommodating and they can arrange to have a barrel stave sent to me for use in their wooden wedding ring. Taking inspiration from their initiative, I contacted my favorite bourbon maker, Angel's Envy for a stave. They were extremely accommodating! They sent me THREE staves, which were used to make their bourbon finished in port wine barrels. Just look at that color! I cant wait to use them. I will update this post when I have a completed ring to show (Edit Jan 23 - ring pics posted below!).
These were cut and finished to feature a bit of the port wine stain.
Check here for this listing, or my shop for any custom style using this wood.
Barrel Staves and the MANY Options at Our Disposal
Jan 25, 2015 Edit: Current list of available barrel staves: Jack Daniel's, Woodford Reserve, Buffalo Trace, Maker's Mark, Angel's Envy, and Old Rip Van Winkle.
My most popular listings incorporate used Jack Daniels barrel staves. In fact, I have many different barrel staves at my disposal. The way this came about is actually pretty interesting - on more than one occasion I have been contacted by a customer who loves the concept of a whiskey barrel stave ring, but is too loyal to another distiller to settle for Jack Daniels. They therefore went ahead and contacted the distiller of their preference to source their own wood. It is not surprising that every distillery is perfectly happy to acquiesce-- by law, bourbon must be aged in NEW oak barrels. They cannot be reused. As a result, I have amassed relatively limited quantities of wood from the following distilleries:
Used Barrel Staves- Various Distilleries
From right to left: Jack Daniels (this is actually only about half of my stock), Jim Beam, Buffalo Trace, Maker's Mark, and RAREST of all a very small amount of wood from The Macallan.
As you can see, they are basically identical. This should come as no surprise, as they are all charred American White Oak (I believe this is also law, to be called bourbon (or in the case of The Macallan, scotch, which by law is aged in USED barrels).
They will all look very similar (the Maker's Mark stave is quite light in color, other than that they are all very similar), but you can specify to me that you would like a certain distillery used in your ring!
Maker's Mark
Jack Daniels Barrel Staves - some of these pieces were originally destined for BBQ smokers
The Macallan Used Barrel Staves
Note on The Macallan wood - I havent yet decided what to do with this. It is very limited in quantity, and I cannot anticipate getting more. I may decide to make it exclusive to Damascus pieces. The wood itself is of obvious superior quality. I dont know if this is because they have the luxury of selecting from the best of the best used barrels or because it has been reused multiple times, but it is very dense and figured (for oak).
UPDATE 12/20/14:
Two new distilleries available!
Woodford Reserve
and Angel's Envy Port Wine Aged
Note on this wood - this bourbon is finished in port wine barrels. It has a gorgeous red stain on the inside that I am dedicated to preserving in the finished ring. For this reason, the wood must be cut in a certain way that limits the size of a ring to size 11, maximum.
EDIT Jan 25, 2015: Old Rip Van Winkle! (and Pappy Van Winkle 20 yr Reserve)
EDIT May 17. 2015: Four Roses and Stranahan's
http://www.wedgewoodrings.com/purchase/cobalt-wooden-ring-lined-with-jack-daniels-whiskey-white-oak-barrel
UPDATE 8/1/2015 - The Yamazaki, The Hakushu, and Hibiki
Very excited to have acquired wood from Suntory whisky, which includes The Yamasaki (a personal favorite), The Hakushu, and Hibiki, which was recently rated #1 whisky in the world. These are used barrel staves that have been converted into floor planks (by Suntory, and sold through their website here: https://ssl1.suntory.co.jp/apl/oss/taru_shop/cat/plist/prms/s_class_id__tars000160)
PLEASE REMEMBER - if you dont see your preferred brand to use in your wooden wedding band, feel free to contact them! They have been universally accommodating to customers' requests.