Design Trends:  Wine Vaults & Bourbon Rooms For Enthusiasts and Collectors

Part 2 of a two part series, diving into the inclusion of a cellar and tasting rooms.

Bourbon Rooms

“Too much of anything is bad, but too much good whiskey is barely enough.”

– Mark Twain

While wine vaults have definitely been on the luxury home scene for some time, bourbon rooms are rising in the ranks of must-haves in luxury homes.  The pandemic may play a part in the rise of popularity of this new home bucket list space, but these rooms are incredible to see in the new build, luxury homes.  Fun and functional, bourbon and whisky lovers are designing new entertainment additions that add a new design twist and home value!

Unlike its grape-created counterpart, bourbon and whisky bottles are stored upright.  While wine must be touching the cork during storage to maintain viability, the opposite is true for stored bourbons.  Also for the collector, visibility is key.  Showing off the bottles of your collection is desirable, so consider designing a space with this basic goal in mind.  Like the wine grotto, a bourbon room doesn’t require a huge space for appropriate storage, but it does benefit the collector to take time in creating a personalized space with your architect.

Whiskey Advocate breaks down basic necessities for your room by encouraging the following:

• Show Your Bottles Off – “… show off those labels by displaying whisky bottles standing up. Plus, if whisky is stored lying down, the cork could alter the flavor over time and you certainly don’t want your spirit to be tainted!”

• Lock Them Up – “A whisky collection is no cheap endeavor, and you’ll want to keep your bottles safe.”

• Don’t Open Too Many At Once – Endeavor to not allow open bottles of whiskey to sit too long on the shelf.  Open bottles will oxidize over time, ruining the flavor of your drink.

Interior designers are showing off more and more of their bourbon room designs, featuring relaxing spaces that include attractive shelving for the bottles and sitting areas.  Reminiscent of the clubs of the prohibition area, these rooms feature a variety of styles, and often include a sitting area designed for sitting back to enjoy your spirits and relaxing. 

What makes your space a unique extension of your goals?  A bourbon room can be created as a multi-purpose space, possibly as an extension of your game room or it could be a stand-alone secret retreat.  Since bourbon storage is less strict than its wine counterpart, incorporating your ideal space may be simpler than you’d think.  Shelving should be considered as being taller, rather than deeper.  If you’ve invested in more expensive labels, consider glass front cabinets that have locking capabilities.  

Thank you for reading  our blog on Wine Vaults & Bourbon Rooms For Enthusiasts and Collectors,  taking a closer look at the features of a bourbon tasting room.  Just in case you missed part 1, be sure and check out how wine vaults also add value to your home.  We hope you enjoy our bird’s-eye-view of these specialized spaces, and would love to work with you in finding the perfect builder and architect if you’re considering purchasing your dream home in the DFW area.  Give Seay Realty Group a call today:  214-636-8485.
Check out our Houzz idea books, for inspiration in designing your own Wine Vault or Bourbon Room: