Short answer: A standard 53-gallon Bourbon Barrel holds around 200 liters, which is enough for about 267 bottles of 750 mL, if you could bottle a full barrel as is. Real yields vary, because spirit evaporates and gets absorbed by the oak as it ages, and most bourbon has water added before bottling, which adds volume back. Oak Wood Wine Barrels doesn't sell bourbon, but we build furniture to hold it, like the Top Shelf Bar Cabinet ($1,259.10) featuring multi-layer bottle storage.
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How many 750 mL bottles do you get out of a barrel of bourbon?
About 267, in theory. A standard Bourbon Barrel holds 53 gallons, or 200.6 liters. Divide by 0.75 liters per bottle and you get 267.5, so 267 full bottles from a barrel filled to the brim, with nothing lost and nothing added.
That number is the barrel's volume, not the yield of any distillery. Here are the same 53 gallons in different bottle sizes:
| Bottle | Size | From a full 53-gallon barrel (200.6 L) |
|---|---|---|
| Standard bottle | 750 mL | about 267 |
| Liter | 1 L | about 200 |
| Handle | 1.75 L | about 114 |
| Half bottle | 375 mL | about 535 |
| Miniature | 50 mL | about 4,012 |
| Case of twelve 750 mL bottles | 9 L | about 22 cases |
Why does the real bottle count change?
Between filling a barrel and bottling it, three things move the number.
- Evaporation. Oak breathes. Some of the spirit leaks out each year through the staves. Distillers call it the angel's share.
- The wood keeps some. A new charred barrel draws spirit into its staves, and most of it stays there when the barrel is emptied.
- Water at bottling. Bourbon must go into the barrel at no more than 125 proof and be bottled at no less than 80 proof. Most bourbon is cut with water to the bottling proof, which adds volume.
The third point is easy to overlook. The math is simple. When you add water, gallons times proof stays about the same. Say 40 gallons are left in a barrel at 120 proof. Diluted to 90 proof, that is about 53 gallons again (40 × 120 ÷ 90), or about 269 bottles. Bottle the same 40 gallons at barrel proof, with no water added, and you get about 202.
How much bourbon is left in a barrel after 20 years?
Much less than went in, but there's no one number. Losses depend on the warehouse, the climate and the position of the barrel. They are cumulative: the loss of each year is taken out of what remains after the previous year.
The table shows what a constant yearly loss would leave in a full barrel of 53 gallons. The rates are sample figures for the arithmetic and not actual data from any distillery.
| If the barrel loses this share each year | Left after 4 years | Left after 10 years | Left after 20 years | 750 mL bottles at barrel proof after 20 years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2% | 92% | 82% | 67% (about 35 gallons) | about 179 |
| 3% | 89% | 74% | 54% (about 29 gallons) | about 145 |
| 5% | 81% | 60% | 36% (about 19 gallons) | about 96 |
That is why a very old barrel can produce far fewer bottles than a young one. The proof can vary too, up or down, depending on whether the warehouse is dry or damp.
How does a Bourbon Barrel compare with a Wine Barrel?
A Bourbon Barrel is the smaller of the two commonly used sizes. The barrique is a Wine Barrel of the Bordeaux type that contains about 225 liters, or roughly 59 gallons, or some 300 bottles of wine.
| Barrel | Capacity | Liters | 750 mL bottles in a full barrel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bourbon or Whiskey Barrel | 53 gallons | about 200 | about 267 |
| Bordeaux-type Wine Barrel | about 59 gallons | about 225 | about 300 |
The wine side of this question has a post of its own: How many bottles of wine in a barrel?
The size difference matters for furniture too. Oak Wood Wine Barrels creates its barrel furniture from Bordeaux-type Wine Barrels. The parts that attach to a barrel are available in both sizes. For example, our steel Foot Rail ($236.50) has one version for 59-gallon Wine Barrels and one for bourbon and Whiskey Barrels.
What happens to a Bourbon Barrel after it's emptied?
Bourbon has to age in new charred oak containers, so a barrel can only be used once for bourbon. Then it moves on. Many are used to age other spirits; others become planters, tables and bars. For the whole story, see Why Bourbon Must Age in New Charred Oak.
If you have an empty Bourbon Barrel, our DIY Bistro Kit (starting at $801) turns it into a pub table: a round top and a steel foot rail to fit a Bourbon Barrel, barrel not included. The kit also comes with two stools ($1,476) or four ($2,151), and in a 59-gallon Wine Barrel version.
Where should you keep the bottles?
Spirits are usually kept upright, to prevent the high-proof liquid from sitting on the cork. For that, a cabinet with shelves is better than a rack that lays bottles down.
- Top Shelf Bar Cabinet ($1,259.10): multiple layers of bottle storage, hidden storage within and wheels below. 27.4 × 27.2 × 38.6 inches.
- Bar Cabinet ($1,237.50): functional storage with the look of a real Wine Barrel. 27.4 × 27.4 × 37 inches.
- Barrel Bars has every cabinet and pub set.
Shipping is free in the continental U.S. In-stock orders ship within five business days. Cabinets are delivered by appointment.
Frequently asked questions
How many gallons are in a barrel of bourbon?
A standard Bourbon Barrel holds 53 gallons, or about 200.6 liters, when full.
How many shots are in a barrel of bourbon?
A full 53-gallon barrel contains 6,784 fluid ounces, or roughly 4,500 pours of 1.5 ounces, before aging losses and added water.
Why are Bourbon Barrels used only once?
Bourbon has to be aged in new charred oak barrels, so a barrel cannot be refilled with bourbon. Used barrels then go on to age other spirits or become furniture and planters.
Is a Whiskey Barrel the same size as a Bourbon Barrel?
Normally. The 53-gallon barrel is standard for bourbon and much other American whiskey, though some craft distillers use smaller barrels.
Can I turn my own Bourbon Barrel into a table?
Yes. The Oak Wood Wine Barrels DIY Bistro Kit adds a round top and foot rail sized for a Bourbon Barrel (barrel not included).