Do I need previous woodworking experience?

No prior experience is needed; the workshop is designed for beginners and guided by professionals.

Can I bring my own spirit to fill the barrel?

You can purchase spirits separately to fill your barrel; the workshop partners with local merchants who offer discounts.

How long does aging in the barrel take?

Aging time varies from a few weeks to several months, depending on the spirit and desired flavor intensity.

Is the workshop wheelchair accessible?

Yes, the venue is stroller and wheelchair accessible.

Can I personalize my barrel?

Yes, you’ll use a wood burning tool to add custom designs and lettering to your barrel.

What age is required to participate?

Participants must be at least 18 years old.

Craft Your Own Whiskey Barrel with Craftsman Ave in Brooklyn | Food Tour

In the heart of Brooklyn’s vibrant arts scene, Craftsman Ave offers a rare hands-on workshop that revives the age-old craft of coopering—the skilled process of making barrels for aging spirits. Located at 117B 11th Street, this four-hour session invites participants to physically construct a 2-liter oak barrel ideal for whiskey aging, blending traditional craftsmanship with modern mixology. Sitting just outside Manhattan, Brooklyn’s industrial charm provides an authentic backdrop for this immersive experience.

The workshop begins with assembling staves and hoops, shaping the barrel’s slender wood slats into a tight, durable vessel. Using a router table, you’ll shape the crozes—grooves that lock the barrel heads in place—before moving to the stand-out moment: the charring. With a propane torch in hand, you’ll char the barrel’s interior, an essential step responsible for infusing spirits with the rich vanilla, caramel, and smoky notes so prized in aged whiskey. Each barrel gets personalized with a wood burning tool, making it uniquely yours. The final assembly includes sealing with beeswax and fitting a tap.

Beyond the build, knowledgeable guides break down the nuances of spirit aging, revealing why barrels are critical to flavor development and how alternative aging methods expand the horizons of craft cocktails. Learn how various woods, char levels, and aging times unlock unexpected flavor combinations, from bourbon barrels aging beer to tequila resting in whiskey casks.

Situated near Gowanus Wine Merchants, participants benefit from a discount to procure spirits for their newly minted barrels. Whether you're a seasoned enthusiast or just cocktail-curious, this workshop elevates your appreciation for craft spirits with an active, tactile approach rarely found in urban settings. Craftsman Ave not only teaches a fading craft but stokes the creative fires behind every perfect pour.

About Craftsman Ave

Craftsman Ave is a hands-on maker workshop company that runs a wide range of craft and fabrication classes. The business offers workshops in metalworking, woodworking, stained glass, bladesmithing, leatherwork, electronics refurbishment, and cocktail barrel aging. Classes range from brief 3–4 hour beginner sessions to intensive full-day experiences and intermediate blacksmithing, giving students practical, project-based learning.

Instructors at Craftsman Ave focus on safety and skill development, teaching soldering, welding, forging, knife heat-treating, CNC basics, and finishing techniques. Projects listed include stained glass nightlights and art pieces, copper lamp construction, steel planter fabrication, custom side tables and longboards, classic Game Boy refurbishment, and multiple knife-making formats from railroad spike blades to Damascus steel creations. Several offerings mention sessions held in Brooklyn.

Craftsman Ave emphasizes hands-on instruction with small-group workshops that guide participants from tool introduction to finished, personalized projects. The curriculum covers practical techniques—measuring, cutting, soldering, hammer-forging, quenching, polishing, and handle fitting—so participants leave with tangible skills and a completed object.

Bookings are typically organized per-session with explicit project outcomes, materials use, and instructor support. The business presents a diverse set of workshops that combine traditional craft methods and modern fabrication tools to help hobbyists, gift-givers, and aspiring makers create high-quality, customized goods. Safety protocols, instructor oversight, and supplied materials are standard for each session, and many workshops are suitable for group events, corporate team-building, birthday parties, and personalized gift-making. Participants receive step-by-step instruction and take home a finished, usable item that reflects individual design choices and learned techniques and continued support.