UKH

I've developed a woodworking hobby and have enjoyed making chairs from used whisky barrels. Does anyone here know where to source barrels that aren't £100+ on Etsy etc? I don't have a local distillery to nip into and ask. I'd like to try my hand at making some other furniture for the garden.

I'd suggest the best way would be to e-mail every distillery you are prepared to drive to on their normal public e-mail address and ask. At least some are bound to come back with useful avenues for you to try (like the contacts of companies that are contracted to take these barrels from the distillery), then you chase down these leads one at a time. If there are no replies, try phoning to chase it up. You might even get lucky with a distillery that would sell you barrels directly.

Depends a bit where you are based but theres a cooperage in Craigellachie and barrels are widely available on Speyside where of course there are lots of distilleries.

https://www.speysidecooperage.co.uk/

https://camlachiecooperage.com/

Because of the demand for used barrels in the wine, cider and beer industries they are quite expensive. Generally £150 plus, often over £400 for a barrell that's had some interesting in it.

Try a loc brewery that's got a barrel aging project, once a brewery has finished with one it's often not used for much.

Used red wine barrels are often a bit cheaper.

Might be too far from you but there is huge selection here at reasonable prices. Check the profile of the seller.          https://www.gumtree.com/p/outdoor-settings-furniture/whisky-barrels-garden-...

Thanks everyone. Useful info.