Coopers!

I've passed this quite a few times,in Canal st.by Millers bridge,but didn't take much notice,till I realised that there can't be many places left,making barrels/kegs, by hand! A dying craft?

A dying craft? No, that would be dying, not Coopering. :)

All whisk(e)y distilleries still (tee-hee) need barrels and get them second-hand from wine/sherry/port etc. makers.

Though I do not know what industries need the rather unique properties of barrels any more. [the flat-pack aspect]

Come to think of it,what would they use them for now? other than ornamental flower/shrub holders!

They've even got a website

http://barrels.org.uk/

Wouldn't mind a Guinness barrel!:nod:

a guinness barrel or a barrel of guinness ?

Errm,.....both!:drool:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by wsteve55

I've passed this quite a few times,in Canal st.by Millers bridge,but didn't take much notice,till I realised that there can't be many places left,making barrels/kegs, by hand! A dying craft?

---

I might be wrong about this but my sense is that barrels are always made by hand, even today. And yes I should think there will continue to be a demand for barrels of kegs in this world. The alternative I suppose is the metal barrels you see for beer or other liquids but it's probable that the wooden ones are preferred by the brewers, vintners, etc., who use them for their beverages.

Chris

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ChrisGeorge

I might be wrong about this but my sense is that barrels are always made by hand, even today. And yes I should think there will continue to be a demand for barrels of kegs in this world. The alternative I suppose is the metal barrels you see for beer or other liquids but it's probable that the wooden ones are preferred by the brewers, vintners, etc., who use them for their beverages.

Chris

---

And for the laughs Chris. :)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3462/...f3a67848_o.jpg
the workshop
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3630/...dd884fd5_o.jpg
This is what they do as well

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Oudeis

A dying craft? No, that would be dying, not Coopering. :)

All whisk(e)y distilleries still (tee-hee) need barrels and get them second-hand from wine/sherry/port etc. makers.

Though I do not know what industries need the rather unique properties of barrels any more. [the flat-pack aspect]

---

Not in the US... we just toured a few distilleries in Kentucky last week, and they are proud of using fresh barrels, with the insides charred, for the aging of their bourboun - two to six years in unheated/uncooled "rickhouses".

Don't the older Scottish distilleries do the same? Their wiskey does taste better than bourboun....:)

Pics attached are of the rickhouses, and the still output - called "white dog" aka "moonshine"...
For some reason the rickhouses make me think of communist-era dormitories...:)