Shopping our oak barrels, you will notice every size comes in two finishes: black hoops or galvanized hoops. It is the same American white oak barrel either way … the hoops hold the barrel together, and the oak does the aging, so the finish does not change how your whiskey, bourbon, rum, or cocktail tastes. What changes is the look, and on the smaller sizes, the price.
What black hoops look like
Black hoops are the classic barrel look: dark bands against light oak. If the barrel is going on a bar cart, a shelf, or into a gift box, black hoops read as traditional and rustic, and they match the barrel most people picture when they think of an aging barrel. One thing to know: black hoops are painted steel, and the paint has a tendency to feather out and stain the barrel when the wood swells or if the outside gets wet.
What galvanized hoops look like
Galvanized hoops are the lighter, silvery steel finish. They suit a brighter bar setup, a modern kitchen, or a gift where the recipient's style leans less traditional. Same barrel, same build … just a lighter metal look.
Price by size
- 1L: Black $37.95, Galvanized $39.95
- 2L: Black $39.95, Galvanized $42.95
- 5L: Black $76.95, Galvanized $81.95
- 10L: Black $125.95, Galvanized $125.95 (same price either finish)
- 20L: Black $203.95, Galvanized $203.95 (same price either finish)
Can you engrave either finish?
Yes. Laser engraving ($10 per barrel) is available on 1L through 10L barrels in either finish, so a name, date, or logo works on black or galvanized hoops alike. 20L barrels cannot be engraved … they are too large for the engraving machine.
Which one should you pick?
- Pick black hoops if you want the traditional, rustic barrel look … just know the painted steel can feather out and stain the barrel when it swells or gets wet on the outside.
- Pick galvanized hoops if you want the neater, cleaner look, or if the barrel needs to match a brighter space.
- On 10L and 20L, price is not a factor, so pick purely on looks.
Either way, cure the barrel before first use, and give it time to do its work … small barrels age spirits in weeks, not years.
Shop: 1L oak barrel, 2L oak barrel, 5L oak barrel, 10L oak barrel, 20L oak barrel. Also see how to cure an oak barrel, how long to age whiskey in a small oak barrel, and engraved oak barrels and corporate gifts.