Ehcache contains an implementation which provides for explicit locking, using read and write locks.

With explicit locking, it is possible to get more control over Ehcache 's locking behavior to allow business logic to apply an atomic change with guaranteed ordering across one or more keys in one or more caches. It can therefore be used as a custom alternative to XA Transactions or Local transactions.

With that power comes a caution. It is possible to create deadlocks in your own business logic using this API.