Do you love the Finger Lakes Region of New York State as much as we do?  This Finger Lakes Blue laser-engraved bathymetric map with Walnut Wood Frame will bring back great memories of vacations and trips to this wonderful region.

Our newest Finger Lakes map is laser-engraved on a hefty 1/4" thick Periwinkle Blue MDF board, which has such wonderful contrast with the Walnut Frame and embossed "The Finger Lakes" script on maple. This wonderful blue goes so well with the brown hues on this piece, and we know you will love it! 

We've also engraved bathymetric lake levels into this piece to give it a bit of old-fashioned charm and interest.

Overall size: 19" x 12"

Finger Lakes Featured:

Conesus
Hemlock
Canadice
Honeoye
Canandaigua
Keuka
Seneca
Cayuga
Owasco
Skaneateles
Otisco

This rustic Domino Clock makes an amazing mantle piece!  We have some friends that love to play Dominos and I thought that this would make a great one-of-a-kind gift for them.

The Rustic Domino clock measures 10-1/2" wide and 14" tall and a sturdy 1" thick.  Made from reclaimed barn wood and either walnut, cherry or maple CNC made dominoes, this piece is sure to be a conversation starter.

The clock comes with a AA Battery Clock Movement and Gold Faced-Hands.  I'm happy to swap out for flat black hands as well if you would prefer. (Note: Antique Oak version does not currently show a clock movement but it will come with one just as shown in the Oiled Oak piece).

I'm currently offering two versions but am happy to build these with any combination of woods and stains that would match your decor best.  Both versions use 10-1/2" wide reclaimed oak with either an oiled finish or antique stained and paired with solid dark walnut or maple dominos set into the oak slab.

I was recently commissioned to clean up and engrave a few of bourbon barrel lids and the process was really fun and the customer loved the end product.

He and his wife had just returned from taking in a few of the distilleries on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail and wanted to commemorate their visit by decorating their home with a few of these custom, authentic bourbon barrel lids.

What Size and What Type of Wood are the Lids Made From?

Although all bourbon barrel lids are going to have their own unique character, they are all 21" in diameter, all made of oak and just over one inch thick.  That makes for a sizable piece of wall art!  Each lid is made up of several slats of oak, all varying in widths from 2" to 4" but not all of the slats are perfectly parallel.

What are the names of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail Regions?

The Kentucky Bourbon Trail TM currently includes 46 distilleries in 6 adjoining regions. There are a variety of tours on the trail which include tastings, exhibits and interactive tours.

The Bourbon Trail Regions are named the Northern, Central, Western, Lexington, Louisville, and Bardstown Regions and are all located in central Kentucky.

Is Whiskey Made in Oak Barrels too?

Most bourbon barrel lids, made of oak, are used only one time by the distillers and are therefore very easy to find on Facebook Marketplace, Etsy or your local distillery.  The lids are normally charred on one side to impart flavor.  Whiskey is also aged in Oak Barrels but those barrels are not often charred.

What is the Difference Between Bourbon and Whiskey?

Whiskey is a general term for an alcoholic beverage made from fermented grains, while bourbon is a type of whiskey made from a grain mixture that's at least 51% corn. Bourbon is typically aged in charred oak barrels, which gives it a distinctive flavor profile.

What is the Process of Engraving a Bourbon Barrel Lid?

The process to engrave your custom bourbon barrel lid begins with fully disassembling the lid and a heavy cleanup and sanding of all pieces and both surfaces.  The charred underside of the lid is cleaned and sanded but I do not remove all of the charring as it would add significantly to the time involved and that side is hidden once the piece is hung on your favorite wall.

Once all the pieces are cleaned and sanded, I reassemble and glue them all back together.  Note that the oak slats have been through exposure to charring, pressure and moisture for a minimum of two years and in many cases much longer.

When I receive the lids from my dealer they are shipped assembled (as can be seen in the photo below) but the slats are not glued together.  The tremendous pressure from the barrel hoops alone holds the slats together.  Therefore because I can't apply the same amount of pressure as the factory, after cleaning and sanding all surfaces, there are some gaps in the slats after reassembly.

As can be seen from the progress photos, the top of the lid is sanded fairly heavily to remove staining and general debris but I do leave some of the character of the lid as I feel that this adds immensely to its charm.

Does the Bourbon Barrel Lid Smell Like Bourbon?

Yes!  The lids do have a slight bourbon smell to them (which I think adds to the charm!).  Note that it is in no way overpowering and just having one of these lids in a room will not make the room smell like bourbon :). There is an authentic, woodsy, smoky, bourbon smell the closer you get your nose to the lid.  And note: This is why I do not add any type of stain, oil or any other product to the finished bourbon barrel lids.  The natural aroma of the lid is yet another reason why you will love giving and receiving one of these custom engraved bourbon barrel lids!

How Does the Bourbon Barrel Lid Design Process Work?

Pricing below includes the lid, design time for whatever graphic you would like engraved on the top, and digital mockups sent for your approval before production.  

When you place your order I will reach out (please leave an email or phone number) to discuss what design you would like.  It's then that we would discuss what you would like engraved on the top.  

Note that you don't need ANY design experience :). Leave that to me!  All design work is done in house and I've worked with hundreds of clients since 2021 designing custom cutting boards, lake signs, ornaments and more.  So there are absolutely no worries if you're not completely sure how you want the design to look.  

Generally, if you can give me the name of your favorite whiskey or bourbon or whatever writing you want on top of the lid, I can send over concepts and ideas until we both arrive at what you are after.

I have many, many fonts and typefaces and can easily find graphics of your favorite bourbon, whiskey, team, state, etc...  The sky is the limit.

How Long Does it Take for Me to Get My Order?

On custom laser engraving orders, it generally takes about two weeks from order to shipping.  Once you place your order we will contact you within 24 hours to discuss your design ideas.  Then, within a day or two we will have a few digital designs to email (or text) you.  Once the design process is complete your order is put in the queue and you can expect shipment in about a week.

The New York Finger Lakes have some of the most charming towns filled with cobblestone streets, amazing restaurants and a wide selection of family-owned gift shops.

My Finger Lakes art collection which includes a variety of laser engraved Lake Maps, Coasters and Ornaments is expanding with a few of my wife and my favorite towns on the Finger Lakes.

Each of these unique laser-engraved ornaments has three layers - the Town name and major roadways, a street layer and finally the deep cobalt blue lake layer.

One of our favorite weekend getaways includes a visit to one of these towns to take in the wonderful sights, hike the nearby trails (the Gorge Trail in Watkins Glen is stunning!), shop in a few locally owned gift shops and top the day off with some fine dining at one of the popular restaurants.

I'm happy to create a Lake Town ornament for you if your favorite isn't in my selection yet.  Just click on the Contact Us and email or text me.

When Frodo Baggins departs the Shire, Gandalf tells him to make for the village of Bree, to the Inn at the Prancing Pony.  There, he promises to meet him to guide him on the next step of the journey on his way to Rivendell to meet Elrond and the elves.

Unfortunately, when Frodo, Samwise Gamgee, Merry and Pippin get to the Prancing Pony, they discover that Gandalf is not there. Not knowing that he has been captured by Saruman, they decide to wait.  It's not long before trouble starts and luckily Strider is there to save them... If you haven't read The Fellowship of the Ring in the J.R.R. Tolkien series, the Lord of the Rings, then I won't spoil it any further for you.

I was gifted the four book series when I was in eighth grade and even today I enjoy reading the books from time to time.

This 4-Layer Prancing Pony sign made from MDF (back layer), Cherry, Maple and Walnut makes a fantastic gift for the Middle Earth fan.  As I could not decide which version I liked best (either the Maple Horse or Walnut Horse), I leave the decision to you.

The sign measures 17"x12" and comes in either the single sided version (pictured) or I can also make a double sided version with holes in the top to allow it to be hung from a ceiling or overhang.

I also am offering a Green Dragon sign in single-sided or double sided versions.

If you or someone you know enjoys these tales of Middle Earth with Hobbits, Elves, Wizards, Goblins, Orcs and more (just as I do!) then this sign will make a one-of-a-kind gift that will be sure to be hanging for years to come.