Researchers from Japan's Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute have been testing the method of producing drinkable alcohol - known as ethanol - since June 2009.
Now they say the drinks they are making from tree bark are similar to drinks aged in wooden barrels, and could be served to customers by 2021.
Both brewed and distilled versions of drinks made from cedar, birch and cherry have been made, with 4kg (8.8lb) of cedar wood giving them 3.8 litres (eight pints) of booze with an alcohol content of 15% - similar to the rice-wine sake.
Source: Sky News