Knowing what zone you are in would be very helpful. If you're in zone 8 or higher you may not need to do anything. In zone 7 some winter protection might be advisable. In zones 6 and lower you will need to protect it more heavily. If you have an unheated garage and are able to move the whiskey barrel in to it that would probably be the easiest way to protect it. The only thing you would need to remember is to water about once a month through the winter.