At Buffalo Trace today

[squire]

I think the practice was unique to distilleries, the hotter stave factory kept going.

[theglobalguy]

Yikes. Understanding OSHA didn't exist back in the day....even automotive foundries traditionally take the July or Aug shutdowns. Guess it's whatever the body gets used to.

[Flyfish]

In the summer of '64 I made catsup for Hunts. Those steam-jacketed kettles were really hot. You make catsup when the tomatoes are ripe not when it is convenient for your comfort. Gotta believe that distilleries have good reasons for their schedules. Auto factories shut down to retool for the next model year. I don't think it has anything to do with the comfort of the employees. Besides, the newer plants I have been in (Ford, Chrysler, and GM) are comfortable year round.

Edited July 25, 2013 by Flyfish

[TunnelTiger]

I don't think it has anything to do with the comfort of the employees. Besides, the newer plants I have been in (Ford, Chrysler, and GM) are comfortable year round.

[cowdery]

Like a lot of factories, BT may require some of its employees to take their vacations, or at least two weeks worth if they have more, during shut down. This avoids a lot of logistical headaches. They also need it for maintenance.

[tanstaafl2]

Seems like I recall during a tour some discussion of shutting down in the summer when the river was running low so as not to impact water supplies for the community as a whole for relatively unimportant activiities like water for drinking and bathing! Of course many places depend on wells and not surface water. And I could be disremembering. Bourbon was involved after all.

Perhaps these days that is less of an issue.

[squire]

Sounds like one of those tour guide stories.

[tanstaafl2]

Sounds like one of those tour guide stories.

Might have been at FR and not BT. Or it might have just been a story as you say!

[wmpevans]

Bruce, I think you're right. Fred told us they stopped distilling in summer because of water issues and maybe the temp of the water.

Fred can weigh in on this and let us know if our memories were totally fogged.

[p_elliott]

Bruce, I think you're right. Fred told us they stopped distilling in summer because of water issues and maybe the temp of the water.

Fred can weigh in on this and let us know if our memories were totally fogged.

I believe that was the temp of the water being too high.

[stevegoz]

Awe-inspiring site during the tour on Saturday: a full pallet of Saz 18 in a bottling room. Of course, it was probably just empty bottles waiting to be filled, but a man can dream....

[joboyd]

I went on Friday. The hard hat tour was amazing and Fred was the perfect tour guide. Loved every minute of it!

[HighHorse]

I believe that was the temp of the water being too high.

[macon]

If you don't mind my asking, how much is a barrel?

[Yeti]

An empty one? :slappin:

I think they're less than $100.

[P&MLiquorsEric]

If you don't mind my asking, how much is a barrel?

Yield should be 20-23 cases. At wholesale, a touch over 4k.