The artistry of barrel making is a skill that dates back more than four thousand years but is still relevant today. Coopers are barrel makers, and they have played a valuable role in American history. When the Mayflower sailed to America, there was an onboard...
During a recent bourbon tasting, a participant asked about the origin of the term rickhouse. I explained I was not sure, but specially constructed buildings known as rickhouses, rackhouses, or warehouses are in use to store and age bourbon. One way of storing barrels...
I love the barrel aging process and the great bourbon it creates. When researching barrels, you commonly hear about keeping up with demand by running 24/7 and creating hundreds of barrels at a time. However, it is not often you hear the terms prime oak, fire...
Bourbon aging in a warehouse at the historic Buffalo Trace Distillery Lately, we have been receiving a lot of questions regarding barrels and barrel aging. Let’s take a fresh look at bourbon barrels. The beautiful color of bourbon and many of the complex flavors...
Many people have asked me why Kentucky became bourbon country, and the answer includes five specific reasons. Kentucky was part of Virginia before becoming a state in 1792. Many Scots-Irish settlers spread west to the eastern portion of Kentucky to begin farming...
