Whoo Hoo! Jack Barrel !!?!

[backyard brewer]

So there is a very good chance I'm getting a barrel from the Jack Daniel Distillery. I have a good friend that is a JD distributor and he was on the phone with the distillery trying to just get a display barrel for a good customer and they asked, "Do you just want a display or one of the ones they can ferment in?" Being a sharp-witted-quick-thinker he says, "...ummm. they want both!" planning of course to divert one to me.

So....

I'm assuming I'll want to do a primary fermentation and then transfer to the barrel for aging, right? I don't want the kreusen mess and such in the barrel, right?

Then.... How do I take care of the barrel from that point forward? Any tips or ideas?