If you’re making whisky, rum or brandy, you know just how much the quality and character of your spirit will be impacted by the choice (and quality) of the casks you have. Below, we’ve consolidated a list of top cooperages from across the world, specialising in everything from traditional oak casks to more unique offerings.
For those looking for American cooperages and maturation solutions, see our dedicated North American cheat sheet HERE.
Considerations when choosing a cask supplier
When selecting a cask supplier, consider the following factors:
Wood type & previous occupant: The type of wood (e.g. European, American oak etc.) and where it’s sourced will greatly influence the flavour profile of your spirit. Of course, the previous occupant (ex-bourbon, ex-wine etc) and that becomes the major talking point, but keep both in mind.
Some cooperages are specialists in certain oak varieties and in creating virgin casks. Meanwhile, the opposite is true – some are better at sourcing high quality used barrels, working on them and sending them back out in prime conditions.
Charring & customisation: Cooperages offer different levels of seasoning and toasting, which impacts the intensity of flavours imparted to the spirit. That’s universal and often client lead. But some cooperages also allow bespoke modifications—like unusual stave selection, specific STR process requests — which can add unique flavour dimensions to your spirit.
Environmental considerations: Increasingly, distillers are considering sustainability in their choice of cooperages. Look for suppliers with transparent sourcing practices or certifications like FSC (Forest Stewardship Council).
Delivery and timing: When choosing a partner cooperage, delivery scale and frequency significant considerations. Align your needs with a supplier that can deliver barrels on a schedule that fits your production cycle, ensuring you always have inventory available. They key is to do this without overstocking, as that leads to empty casks sitting idle, risking drying out, and so on.
On the other hand, underestimating your needs can lead to production delays. To optimise both cost and efficiency, look for a partner that can offer the best scenario for you. It’s a balance. For some it may be about flexibility and smaller, frequent shipments to keep the barrels fresh, while for others it’s about maximising container-sized loads to optimise transportation value.
Cooperages and cask suppliers in Scotland
Speyside Cooperage:
Speyside Cooperage, founded by the Taylor family in 1947, is one of the best known cooperages in the UK. In 1991, they moved to a larger site on the outskirts of Craigellachie, and in 1992 opened a visitor centre to showcase the coopering craft- which has become a destination for whisky fans visitng the region.
It’s worth noting that in 2008, the company was acquired by Tonnellerie François Frères Group, becoming part of their network of cooperages and stave mills.
Camlachie Cooperage:
Camlachie Cooperage, located in Glasgow’s East End, has been supporting Scotland’s whisky industry for 60 years. Specialising in repairing and rejuvenating whisky casks, they use traditional methods and tools that have changed little over time. Each year, they supply and repair over 100,000 casks for distilleries in Scotland and around the world.
To ensure the craft of coopering continues, Camlachie Cooperage offers an award-winning apprenticeship for young school leavers, overseen by the National Cooperage Federation.
Oakwood Cooperage:
Oakwood Cooperage, founded in 2018 by award-winning cooper Brent Bowie, is one of the largest independent cooperages in the UK, with locations in Keith, Speyside, and Uddingston near Glasgow. The company employs skilled coopers and trains apprentices to preserve the craft of coopering, while also being committed to driving sustainable practices.
Alba Cooperage:
Alba Cooperage, located in Rutherglen, Scotland, specialises in the repair, maintenance, and rejuvenation of wooden casks. They are dedicated to quality, selecting barrels with a focus on traceability and freshness, reflecting the importance of the entire journey from oak forest to distillery.
Cask suppliers and coopers in Ireland
Dairnua Cooperage:
Dair Nua Cooperage, based in Foxford, County Mayo on Ireland’s west coast, provides coopering services to the Irish whiskey industry, including cask inspections, repairs, re-charring, de-charring, and resizing. They also supply a wide range of premium specialty casks sourced globally for whiskey maturation.
Independent cooperage in England
Jensen’s Cooperage (Ripon, North Yorkshire):
Not one for having a digital presence (no website in 2024!) but highly regarded nevertheless. Jensen’s is entirely focussed on being a traditional English cooperage offering a personal approach to bespoke cask needs, catering particularly to the rising number of English whisky distilleries.
Cooperages in France
Tonnellerie Francois Freres:
François Frères produces high-quality barrels by carefully selecting oak from the “l’Office National des Forêts” (ONF) plantations. The oak staves are crafted in their mill and seasoned naturally for a minimum of two years in an open-air environment, benefiting from a unique microclimate.
Throughout production, rigorous quality control is maintained, including contaminant testing and hygrometry checks. The barrels are made from 100% PEFC-certified oak, ensuring sustainability and preserving biodiversity. Meanwhile, each barrel is tracked with an identity card, ensuring full traceability from selection to final product.
Tonnellerie Damy:
Damy Cooperage, located in Meursault, Burgundy, combines traditional coopering methods with modern technology to produce high-quality barrels. Damy selects the finest French oak species from forests such as Allier and Vosges to ensure exceptional quality and aroma.
The barrels undergo natural drying for 24 to 36 months. Meanwhile Damy’s skilled coopers also provide custom toasting, allowing each barrel to develop specific aromas. The production process includes meticulous wood selection, assembly, toasting, and a final water-tight test.
Tonnellerie Baron:
Founded by Henri Baron in 1875, Tonnellerie Baron is located in Saintes, Charente-Maritime, near the Cognac vineyards. The cooperage maintains traditional coopering methods while being recognized for its creativity and innovative spirit. Each barrel undergoes meticulous processes, from selecting high-quality French oak to seasoning staves for three summers in the unique Charente climate.
Tonnellerie Baron also upholds strict PEFC-certified sustainable forestry practices and replants one oak tree for every barrel produced. With a focus on training and craftsmanship, they offer custom barrels, puncheons and foudres.
Tonnellerie Rousseau:
Tonnellerie Rousseau, founded in 1954, is a family-owned cooperage based in Côte de Nuits, specialising in crafting premium barrels ranging from 57 to 600 liters, as well as large containers such as casks and vats, all from 100% French oak.
Their team of over 40 individuals, with an average age of just 35, is dedicated to passing on coopering skills while striving for excellence.
Tonnellerie Bordelaise:
Tonnellerie Bordelaise produces barrels using fine-grain oak sourced from prestigious French forests, including Tronçais, Bercé, Fontainebleau, and Bertranges. The staves are naturally seasoned in the open air for 24 to 36 months, enhancing the wood’s characteristics before being crafted into barrels.
The cooperage uses traditional methods for toasting, performed gently over a brazier, which provides elegant tannins and aromatic complexity. The craftsmanship emphasises artisanal values, ensuring each step in the production process delivers custom-made barrels that enhance the finesse and quality of their contents.
Tonnellerie Quintessence
Tonnellerie Quintessence, a French cooperage owned by Independent Stave Company (ISC), seamlessly blends traditional craftsmanship with modern expertise. Situated near Bordeaux, this cooperage is dedicated to producing barrels that enhance the unique characteristics of each wine.
Their commitment to innovation is evident through their on-site research laboratory, where they develop proprietary toasting techniques and barrel designs. By selecting the finest oak and employing meticulous production methods, Tonnellerie Quintessence can ensure consistency, traceability, and customisation in their barrels.
Tonnellerie Leroi:
Tonnellerie Leroi, founded in 1735 by the oldest Cognac house, is a renowned French cooperage known for crafting high-quality oak barrels and vats for wines and spirits. Located in the Cognac region, the cooperage benefits from generations of traditional artisan coopers, ensuring craftsmanship that is both historic and precise.
Leroi uses only the finest French oak, sourced from sustainably managed forests certified by the ONF, and subjects it to an extended drying period to refine its aromatic qualities.
They also produce large-format vats and casks at the Charlois group’s workshop, integrating both traditional skills and modern customisation.
Tonnellerie Taransaud:
Taransaud exclusively uses French oak certified by Bureau Veritas. The logs are processed into rough staves using a laser-assisted technique for optimal results. The coopering process prioritises meeting winemakers’ specific requirements, with careful control over wood sourcing, seasoning, and toasting.
Each step ensures the desired aromatic profile, with toasting performed by skilled craftsmen who avoid over-toasting and use traditional techniques to enhance the oak’s characteristics.
Cooperages in Spain & Portugal
Tonelería Murúa emphasises the importance of time for drying wood to achieve optimal results in barrel production. The wood panels are left to season naturally for two to three years, which gradually decreases internal humidity and reduces astringent tannins, ensuring the wood reaches the desired aromatic and phenolic quality.
Murúa is committed to quality, transparency, and traceability, maintaining ISO 9001 Quality and ISO 14001 Environmental Management certifications since 2002. Coopers at Murúa undergo a five-year training program, and the company collaborates with the University of Rioja and oenology associations for ongoing research and development.
Magreñán:
Tonelería Magreñán, founded in 1820 and based in Alfaro, Spain, has a long tradition of craft barrel-making. Established by Rafael Magreñán in 1950, the cooperage has retained its commitment to quality, authenticity, and traditional craftsmanship across five generations. Today, it is best known for its expertise in crafting barrels for Rioja wines.
Tonelería Magreñán emphasises individualised approaches, carefully selecting the wood, adapting cooperage techniques, and allowing customisation in every aspect of barrel production, from oak type to toast level.
They offer a range of barrels made from American, French, and European oak, catering to both Spanish and international clients who value precision and craftsmanship in the aging process.
Toneleria Duero:
Cooperage Duero has over 20 years of experience manufacturing oak barrels and vats, catering to both national and international markets, particularly specializing in 225-litre barrels for wineries in the Ribera del Duero region.
In 2017, Cooperage Duero moved to new facilities in Aranda de Duero, featuring a wood drying park with over 3000 square metres. The cooperage sources high-quality oak from certified providers in France, the USA, Romania, Hungary, and Spain, and naturally dries the wood for at least 24 months. The factory’s location near the Duero River takes advantage of natural moisture, contributing to a slower, natural drying process that helps develop the elegant aromatic qualities of the oak.
Toneleria Juan Pino
Tonelería Juan Pino, located in Montilla, Andalusia, is a family-owned business specializing in high-quality cask manufacturing, using techniques passed down through generations. They use oak from Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria, as well as European and American oak, which is air-dried in Andalusia’s climate.
The cooperage offers customisable options, including toasting levels and sherry seasoning with different varieties like Oloroso, Fino, or Pedro Ximenez. All products are tailored to the specific needs of customers, and complete traceability is provided for each cask, detailing its wood type, origin, and seasoning specifications.
Tanoaria Josafer
Tanoaria Josafer, established in 1962 by José António Fernandes, is a family-owned cooperage located in Esmoriz, Portugal, near the renowned Port wine region. Specialising in crafting and repairing barrels and casks for ageing wines and spirits, the company utilises a variety of woods, including American, European, and Portuguese oak, as well as Portuguese chestnut. These woods undergo natural seasoning outdoors for 12 to 18 months, benefiting from the Atlantic Ocean’s proximity to enhance the maturation process.
Tanoaria Josafer offers a range of charring options—light, medium, heavy, and extra heavy—to tailor the barrels’ aromatic profiles to clients’ specific maturation needs. With a commitment to quality and tradition, the company has expanded its market presence to over 30 countries worldwide.
Cooperages and cask suppliers in Australia and New Zealand
Cooperages 1912 & Heinrich Cooperage
1912 is one of Australia’s oldest cooperages, offering a variety of barrels including American and French oak, and is used widely in both the wine and spirits industries. Our understanding is that 1912 and Heinrich Cooperage are now linked together via parent company ISC and that sourcing and account management can either been done direct or via that umbrella.
AP John Cooperage:
A.P. John Cooperage, founded by Christian Paul John in 1889, has a rich family history in the Barossa Valley, spanning five generations involved in viticulture, winemaking, and coopering. Today, the business is managed by Peter John, a fourth-generation Master Cooper, along with his son, Alex John.
The cooperage sources the finest French, American, and Hungarian oak from trusted mills, with air seasoning lasting between 24 to 36 months. Each barrel is crafted from select, well-seasoned oak and is trusted by hundreds of wineries across Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and California. While wine is their area of experience, it’s safe to say that casks for spirits maturation can also be discussed with them.
Bouchard Cooperages:
Vincent Bouchard, born and raised at the Bouchard Père et Fils winery in Beaune, France, is a ninth-generation vineyard manager and winemaker. Vincent later worked internationally to bring French oak barrels to winemaking regions outside France and became a pioneering voice in barrel innovations, such as introducing different toasting levels, using silicone bungs, and emphasising the importance of forest origin.
Today, Bouchard Cooperages collaborates with multiple cooperages, an oak alternatives supplier, and two Italian producers of egg and amphora vessels, continuing to serve the industry with a focus on quality and innovation.
Murray River Cooperage:
Murray River Cooperage is located in the tourist-friendly town of Corowa, New South Wales, nestled along the scenic Murray River.
Led by John Carberry, a Master Cooper with over 30 years of experience in Scotland’s finest cooperages, their team brings expertise from the UK’s most iconic distilleries. Whether it’s barrel repairs or crafting brand-new casks – they’ve got the skills to meet your needs.
Independent cooperage in Japan
Ariake Sangyo:
Ariake Sangyo, founded in 1963 by Odawara Toshio, is an independent cooperage based in Fushimi, Kyoto, originally supplying wooden crates for sake bottles. In 1984, they expanded into making oak casks for shochu and whisky, becoming the only independent cooperage in Japan.
Now led by the fourth generation, Odawara Nobuyuki, the company focuses on handcrafted barrels, utilising Japanese native wood to bring unique flavour profiles to spirits. Ariake emphasises traditional craftsmanship and is dedicated to passing down skills to the next generation to preserve Japan’s cooperage culture.
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