The bourbon barrel business as told by 60 Minutes

[flahute]

OK this is fun. A lot of info that is well known to us here but is very educational to the general public.

Also nice to see Kentucky and ISC getting some national recognition.

 

 

[GeeTen]

Way kewl, bro - thanks for the link.  

 

You coming to Bardstown this week?  

[kcgumbohead]

For all the distillery visits I’ve done I have yet to do a cooperage tour and it’s always been highly recommended. This is a nice hors d ourve as I will set that right later in the week. Thanks for the link Steve.

[flahute]

7 hours ago, GeeTen said:

Way kewl, bro - thanks for the link.  

 

You coming to Bardstown this week?  

Unfortunately I will not be there. When I said I could be there last year I did not realize it was Easter weekend.

[flahute]

7 hours ago, kcgumbohead said:

For all the distillery visits I’ve done I have yet to do a cooperage tour and it’s always been highly recommended. This is a nice hors d ourve as I will set that right later in the week. Thanks for the link Steve.

It is definitely worth it. When we did an OF barrel pick (this was back when it was only the 90 proof product) we got a tour of the BF cooperage in Louisville and it was one of the most fun things I've done there. When they set the insides of the barrels on fire you really feel that heat!

 

[Skinsfan1311]

On 4/14/2025 at 2:16 PM, flahute said:

It is definitely worth it. When we did an OF barrel pick (this was back when it was only the 90 proof product) we got a tour of the BF cooperage in Louisville and it was one of the most fun things I've done there. When they set the insides of the barrels on fire you really feel that heat!

 

Same!

[Anwalt]

On 4/14/2025 at 7:07 AM, kcgumbohead said:

For all the distillery visits I’ve done I have yet to do a cooperage tour and it’s always been highly recommended. This is a nice hors d ourve as I will set that right later in the week. Thanks for the link Steve.

 

My understanding is that they are closing the cooperage, cost-cutting & all. Not sure as to the timing.

[smokinjoe]

I’m pretty sure that ISC is not closing, but the Brown Foreman Cooperage is closing.   
 

 

[Richnimrod]

Finally got around to watching this video, Steve.   I already knew pretty much all the basic information given.   So, I had low expectations, having seen so many cursory attempts made at 'educating' the general public about the barrels that age our Bourbon (and so many other spirits and consumer products).   Many of the previously mentioned attempts had been rife with slightly incorrect, or outright misinformation... or even total bullshit.   This brief-but-pretty-complete 60 Minutes story was not that.   It was very well-researched, visually attractive, and very enjoyable.    Thanx for posting it my friend.

[Skinsfan1311]

On 4/16/2025 at 4:14 PM, smokinjoe said:

I’m pretty sure that ISC is not closing, but the Brown Foreman Cooperage is closing.   
 

 

That's a damn shame.    The Cooperage tour was one of the highlights of our last visit.  It was a very informative, and fun, tour.   Those Coopers are very skilled and it was fascinating to watch them put those barrels together.   I hope that they all find jobs.