Got an old whiskey bottle lying around? You’ve got two choices: recycle the bottle and restock or you can cherish the memories you made by upcycling the bottle in a creative way. There are a ton of different ways to repurpose old whiskey bottles and ideas for every skill level, from beginner to more advanced. These are our favorite ways to reuse an old whiskey bottle, from easy to more challenging. Keep in mind that some of these ideas require power tools and fire so proceed with caution. It’s best to not drink and DIY.
Create an infinity bottle
Now you can DIY pretty much anything, and that includes your own blended whiskey. Spirit lovers are now experimenting with “infinity bottles,” which involves taking a bottle that’s not quite full and topping it with pours of other bottles to make unique blends that you can’t find anywhere else. As the bottle gets low, a splash of another bottle gets added so the bottle is never completely empty, which lends itself to the “infinity” name. There are no hard and fast rules for creating a blended spirit, but you don’t want to throw liquors together without any thoughts. It’s all about finding the right nuance and balance. The benefits to trying an infinity bottle are numerous. For one, it’s a creative way to try the art of blending at home. And it’s also a way to use up almost empty bottles that collect dust in the back of your liquor cabinet. Who knows, maybe you’ll create a desired flavor profile that’s better than your favorite bottle of whiskey.
DIY Skill level: beginner
Time requirement: 10 minutes or less
Turn it into a carafe or vase
A bottle has so many uses but the obvious one is to hold another type of liquid. This DIY project will take less than an hour. If you’re crafting a carafe, simply wash out the bottle and use it ot hold water, iced tea or lemonade. If you’re going the vase route, you may want to take the additional step of removing the label and decorating the bottle.
DIY Skill level: beginner
Time requirement: One hour or less
Decorate with twinkle lights
This is another easy creative way to reuse an old whiskey bottle. And it’s perfect for entertaining and adding flair to a party. Start by washing out your old whiskey bottle. Purchase a set of battery-powered twinkle lights. Thread them into the clean, empty bottle. Pro tip: buy a set of lights that hold the batteries in the “cork” so that you don’t have a battery pack to tape onto the back of the bottle. If you have a set of miniature whiskey bottles, you could create a set of string lights as well.
DIY Skill level: beginner
Time requirement: One hour or less
DIY a soap dispenser
Want to dress up your bathroom decor with a splash of your favorite drink? The hardest part of this DIY project is finding a soap pump that fits the bottle. The easiest way to find the right fit is to take your soap pump to a decor store and find one that fits. Once you find the pump that fits your bottle, the only thing left is to remove the label and fill it with soap!
DIY Skill level: intermediate
Time requirement: Three hours or less
Make a set of salt and pepper shakers
This project works best with smaller or mini whiskey bottles. As with the soap dispenser project, the challenge with the salt and pepper shaker set is to find the right kind of lids or creating your own. Once you nail that part down, the steps are the same: clean the bottles and fill with salt and pepper.
DIY Skill level: intermediate
Time requirement: Three hours or less
Use the bottle as a planter
This creative way to reuse an old whiskey bottle adds a whimsical touch to any yard art. If you’re using the bottle as a planter for real trees or plants, you’ll want to drill holes into the bottom so water has a way to drain. Otherwise, decorate the bottles to match your existing decor or spruce up a holiday season. Creeping vines or other plants work well to drape around the whiskey bottles.
DIY Skill level: intermediate
Time requirement: Three hours or less
Light the yard with tiki torches
For this more advanced DIY project, you’ll need Teflon tape, a copper coupling that fits your bottle, a tiki replacement wick, tiki torch fuel and a funnel. If your coupling doesn’t fit tightly into the bottle, wrap it in Teflon tape enough times so that it will firmly fit your bottle opening and then feed the wick up through the coupling. Now add the tiki fuel to the bottle with the funnel. Insert the wick and secure the coupling into the bottle opening. Cut the exposed wick to one inch and let it absorb the tiki fuel for 10 to 15 minutes before lighting.
DIY Skill level: advanced
Time requirement: Four to five hours
Craft your own candles
Making candles is one of the most creative ways to reuse an old whiskey bottle but it’s also the most advanced DIY project. You’ll need a Dremel tool with a diamond wheel, a sponge, k220-grit or higher sandpaper, a wick, candle was and scented oil (optional). You can also get candle-making kits from most craft stores. Determine how tall you want the candle to be and make the line on the bottle. Use your Dremel at medium speed to begin cutting the bottle. Don’t apply a ton of pressure and go slow to avoid breaking the bottle. (Safety glasses and rubber-coated gloves are a must). Dab a sponge with water and squeeze onto the bottle to prevent cracking. Use the sandpaper to sand down the edges and wash the bottle to remove remaining dust.
Tape a wick to the bottom of the bottle and wrap it around a pencil to hold the wick straight up. Heat up your wax and as it’s melting add your scented oil. Let the wax cool until it’s thick and slushy, then carefully pour it into the bottle making sure you have one inch from the top remaining. Let it dry overnight and then remove the pencil. Cut the wick to about ¼ an inch above the top of the candle and light.
DIY Skill level: advanced
Time requirement: Reserve an entire afternoon for this project
