When acquiring barrels for aging spirits, winemaking, or craft beer projects, you may wonder if you should work with a…

ISC sources oak logs from all over the world to make our world class spirit barrels. The most popular selections…

ISC has been dedicated to our customers’ success for over one hundred years.  As oak experts we partner with distillers…

Labor Day calls for simple and classic fare, the kind of comfort food that brings people together through shared memories.…

Bourbon Heritage Month is just a few weeks away, which means it is time to mark your calendars for the…

“Assume a spherical cow” Before I came to ISC to study spirit maturation, I was in the field of engineering.…

Visitors to Kentucky Cooperage have been mesmerized as they watch our skilled coopers shape and assemble individual oak staves, secure…

Similar to bourbon in the United States, the aging of spirits from Europe, the Caribbean and Indian Ocean have been…

Over the next four years, students at the University of Kentucky will be able to monitor the progress of eight…

Earth Day is a reminder of the importance of environmental conservation and sustainability, encouraging people and businesses to take action…

The James B. Beam Institute at the University of Kentucky hosted their 5th annual industry conference last week.…

We are proud to announce that our domestic cooperages- Missouri Cooperage, Kentucky Cooperage and Commonwealth Cooperage- have all secured certification…

Timber harvesting operations require a high-level of trust between loggers, landowners, and others involved in the project…

We are expanding our domestic stave mill operations! Our new facility in Rickman, TN will allow us to increase our…

Oak staves and heading should be seasoned for a minimum of 3-to-6-months, but the real differences begin to manifest when…

Spice Up Your Holiday Charcuterie Board with Boozy Cranberries and Bourbon PecansPut on your party hat and get ready for…

Whiskey makers around the world have built their house profile brands on a classic- the char #4 whiskey barrel…

Esters are fascinating little compounds in the sense that they are responsible for some of the more distinguishable and potent…

Finishing aged bourbon with oak alternatives has really gained a lot of acceptance in the spirits world in the last…

Over the last few years, innovation in the used barrel category has pushed producers deeper into the landscape of varied…

Congratulations to the 2023 World Championship Barrel Relay participants…

Golf and whiskey go back a long way and have quite a few similarities…

Popcorn is a great snack. You know what makes it even better? Adding bourbon…

Update on our 2019 warehouse maturation experiment…

Read about how ISC Barrels helped one company bring a new luxury American Single Malt Whiskey to life…

The History of Whiskey and the Kentucky Derby…

Visit a distillery anywhere in the world and you’ll likely hear your tour guide talk about the influence climate has…

Over the past decade, Louisville has once again become a major epicenter for the distilling industry. Louisville’s famed Whiskey Row…

A twist on your normal chicken tacos, this BBQ bourbon sauce will give a kick of flavor to any Taco…

Before we ascend the throne to master taster, this painful test of honor needs to happen. This one is championed…

So, you have a whiskey nerd in your family or circle of friends and it’s your turn to buy them…

Whether you’re dashing through the snow from one holiday party to the next or hosting your own Christmas party, it’s…

At Independent Stave Company, we feel it is necessary to be on the forefront of barrel innovation. We try our…

Have we been busy at the ISC Research Center? Indeed, we have! Our experimental barrel program has grown by leaps…

Chad Spalding recently stopped by Limestone Branch Distillery, which is located right down the road from our Kentucky Cooperage in…

As the summer fades into fall, we’re welcoming a change of pace with back-to-school events, football, and fall parties. With…

The changing climate presents foresters and land managers with a variety of new challenges. The good news? With proper forest…

Sensory evaluation is one of the best parts of my job. It is as enjoyable as it is interesting and…

It’s always a pleasure to visit customers at their distilleries. It’s fun to catch-up and take a look at their…

Our last post about aging whiskey on different levels of a warehouse sparked some questions from our readers about how…

It’s no secret – the Irish Whiskey market is booming. It is being fueled by new customers in emerging markets…

Whiskey barrel warehouses come in a variety of different styles and configurations. Palletized, dunnage, traditional rick, and all kinds of…

Peat is one of the more interesting ingredients in the whiskey making process. The use of peat goes back centuries…

Our company was founded in 1912 and we have been fortunate to have had access to a steady supply of…

Nothing says comfort food like a warm, gooey brownie. Add in bacon, bourbon, and pecans and you’ve elevated the traditional…

Peat is one of the more interesting ingredients in the whiskey making process. The use of peat goes back centuries…

Two years ago, we began developing a new type of barrel to join our Small Batch Series called the Smoked…

While by no means do I consider myself an eggnog connoisseur, or even an eggnog enthusiast, I’m going to give…

If you’ve ever wondered how to add more bourbon into your Thanksgiving dishes, you’re in good company. We scoured the…

Here is the the fourth video in our Tasting Kit Series. This video features Chad Spalding and Andrew Wiehebrink discussing…

As coopers, we are often asked about the different char levels. Mainly, “Why are the higher char levels – Char…

Today we bring you the third video in our Tasting Kit Series. This video features Chad Spalding and Andrew Wiehebrink…

ISC Barrels’ sister company, Oak Solutions Group (OSG), and customer Left Bank Distilled Spirits gave a dual presentation on how…

Today we bring you the second video in our Tasting Kit Series. This video features Chad Spalding and Andrew Wiehebrink…

Australia has been producing whisky since the 1820’s, but the growth of craft distilleries didn’t begin until recently. Prior to…

The secret is in the sauce. Well, at least it is for The Smokin’ Barrel Boys BBQ team, made up…

Guest Post by Nathen Gabriel, Balcones Distilling. In 2009, Balcones Distilling released the first Texas whisky since Prohibition. With no…

We are excited to bring you a guest post on current industry trends from Bardstown Bourbon. Stay tuned – we…

When Pat Daugherty was hired as our new Kentucky Cooperage Tour Guide in early 2020, the last thing he expected…

Small Batch Tasting Kitswith Chad Spalding and Andrew WeihebrinkToday we are bringing you a brand new series featuring our ISC…

ISC Barrels is well known for our traditional spirit barrel, but we offer a multi-dimensional portfolio of products with the…

At our Kentucky and Missouri cooperages, most production employees specialize in one aspect of the barrel making process such as…

Supporting Missouri Woodland Owner EducationMissouri Woodland Steward is a natural resource education program through the University of Missouri College of…

It has been a long year, but here we are preparing for the second annual James B. Beam Institute Industry…

ISC Barrels has recently developed a customizable tasting kit to help our current and future customers easily fine-tune their barrel…

A light French cookie with a rich, decadent filling, this Chocolate Caramel Bourbon Macaron recipe is worth the effort. Macarons…

2020 Spirits Selection – An International Spirits CompetitionAt our blog, most content is focused on barrels to age bourbon and…

Our Volunteer Firefighter Initiative was launched in September with the mission to support fire departments who rely on volunteer firefighters…

ISC Barrels Account Manager Chad Spalding recently caught up with the Distillery Manager at Angel’s Envy, Kyle Henderson.…

ISC Barrels Account Manager Chad Spalding recently visited Isaac Winter, the Blending and Distilling Manager at High West Distillery.…

Back in June, ISC Barrels Account Manager Chad Spalding had to the chance to (virtually) catch up with the Sagamore…

Ooey gooey goodness with a healthy measure of bourbon, that’s what these marshmallows are. This recipe comes from our colleague…

ISC Barrels Account Manager Chad Spalding recently (virtually) caught up with the Director of Operations at Cedar Ridge Distillery, Murphy…

Sustainability is always top of mind at ISC Barrels. Continuity of log supply is essential to ensuring we can make…

We’re excited to bring you a new series of posts with bourbon inspired recipes created and tested by our talented…

ISC Barrels Account Manager Chad Spalding recently (virtually) caught up with the Master Blender at WhistlePig, Pete Lynch. Listen to…

An Interview with Rob Arnold of TX WhiskeyISC Barrels Account Manager Chad Spalding recently (virtually) caught up with the Master…

Join Andrew Wiehebrink, Director of Spirits Research and Innovation, on a video tour of our ISC Research Center in Lebanon,…

We all like to be different, to stand out amongst the crowd and be noticed. This sentiment holds true for…

If you read the recent blog post about the Small Batch Toasted Barrels, you knew I was scheduled to conduct…

Besides the differences in what an oak species can impart to the spirit in flavor, there are vast differences in…

Crafting Mash Tun Fermentation Barrels for George Washington’s Distillery at Mount VernonThe rich history of bourbon is part of what…

A few months ago Chad visited Four Roses and had the chance to chat with Brent Elliott, Master Distiller. Brent…

In 2019, ISC Barrels officially rolled out four toasted barrels in our Small Batch Series. Named after the characteristics they…

Chad recently traveled to Pleasureville, KY to sit down with Ken Pierce, Master Distiller at Six Mile Creek Distillery for…

While in Missouri recently Chad had the opportunity to visit Dave Weglarz at Still 630 in St. Louis. During his…

New Visitor Center Now Open at Kentucky Cooperage We have been hard at work the past few months improving our…

Chad Spalding, ISC Barrels Account Manager, sits down for another Q&A with a Master Distiller. This time he visited Jacob…

ISC Barrel Account Manager, Chad Spalding, recently visited Missouri and talked with Wood Hat Spirits’ Master Distiller Gary Hinegardner.…

A little over four years ago, we began to experiment with a barrel now known as our Wave Stave barrel;…

When used in conjunction with barrel aging, oak alternatives are a natural way to use 100% oak to access a…

Most of you who follow the ISC Barrels blog post are familiar with the use of new charred oak barrels…

Independent Stave Company (parent company of ISC Barrels) recently purchased 3,000 acres of land in northern Tennessee. The land will…

Account Manager Chad Spalding interviews Head Distiller Matthew Jackson from Preservation Distillery [VIDEO]…

After charring, we follow a proprietary process to cut spirals throughout the inside of the barrel, significantly increasing the surface…

The spirits industry is on fire. Large distilleries are expanding, the craft spirits industry continues to grow at a rapid…

In October Independent Stave Company CEO Brad Boswell sat down at Kentucky Cooperage with the guys of Bourbon Pursuit Podcast…

At Kentucky Cooperage we enjoy showing people how we craft barrels for the World’s Finest Spirits. Thank you to all…

All ISC barrels that require a toast profile to be applied before charring are crafted at our Missouri Cooperage located…

At Kentucky Research Center, most of our efforts are geared towards sensory analysis, customer product development and flavor discovery. However,…

Up next in our International Spirits category, we are excited to bring you a post on Rhum. If you missed…

The Independent Stave Company team had a great time at the 2018 Kentucky Bourbon Festival. Friday night we hosted our…

ISC Barrel Account Manager, Chad Spalding, recently visited Tennessee and talked with Grant McCracken, Chattanooga Whiskey Master Distiller.…

As barrels exit the steam tunnel they move to the “windlass” where the top of the raised barrel is squeezed…

Independent Stave Company and American Forests have launched a one of-its-kind Oak Restoration Fund to invest in key projects that…

Earlier this summer, we successfully completed our inaugural maturation class at Moonshine University. The new class, entitled “Age-ucation” was a…

ISC Barrel Account Manager, Chad Spalding, recently visited Kelso, Tennessee and talked with Phil Prichard, Prichard’s Distillery Master Distiller.…

Whether you’re barrel aging and looking for another oak component or working with a spirit that needs a different oak…

I am always surprised how many people are unaware of the role that oak barrels play in the craft beer…

This is the fourth blog post in our series, “From Forest to Barrel”. Catch up by reading the last post.…

Q&A: Woodinville Whiskey Co-Owner & Head Distiller Brett CarlileISC Barrel Account Manager, Chad Spalding, recently visited Woodinville, Washington and talked…

In Oxygenation Part I, we discussed different variables that influence the rate of oxygenation during the maturation period. In this…

From March 4-6 our ISC Barrels team visited the city of Pittsburgh for the fifth annual American Craft Spirits Association…

At ISC Barrels we are proud to have our casks in distilleries around the world. While many barrels reside in…

Offered in limited quantities, our Small Batch barrels combine innovation and technology to bring out the best in your spirits.…

Flavor development in barrel aged spirits is a complex process. As coopers, our focus is on oak extractives and their…

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from our team!…

Our Cooper’s Reserve barrel brings creativity to the forefront, allowing distillers to create a fully customized barrel tailored to their…

ISC Barrel Account Manager, Chad Spalding, recently sat down with the Wilderness Trail Distillery Owners Shane Baker and Pat Heist.…

At our six domestic company-owned stave mills, employees take the high-quality white oak logs and process them into rough staves…

Sensory analysis is a critical aspect of research and development at ISC. Each year we lay down new experimental barrels…

Our Classic barrel has been around for decades, earning it a reputation as the go-to barrel for distillers around the…

ISC Barrels is proud to sponsor and judge the long tradition of the Kentucky Bourbon Festival World Championship Bourbon Barrel…

At ISC, we take sustainability and growth of our white oak resource seriously. We support the Missouri Forest Products Association…

ISC Barrel Account Manager, Chad Spalding, recently sat down with the Master Distiller at Bardstown Bourbon Company, Steve Nally.…

After logs are harvested in the forest, loggers transport their loads to one of our 11 domestic log yards for…

Product Profile: Cooper’s SelectOur Cooper’s Select barrel was developed to allow distillers the opportunity to explore additional flavor characteristics for…

Before an ISC Barrel is even a twinkle in our coopers’ eyes, the process of sourcing the best American white…

In mid-April, ISC team members from around the world convened at our new Research Center located in Lebanon, Kentucky. Attendees…

ISC Barrel Account Manager, Chad Spalding, recently sat down with the Co-founder and Distiller of Limestone Branch Distillery, Steve Beam.…

In Barrel Profiling – Part 1, we touched on a few topics relating to the heat treatment of oak barrels.…

Historically, the benefits of aging spirits in charred barrels was discovered by accident. Intense heat was used in both barrel…

Oak is an excellent choice for crafting spirits barrels. Why? It contributes a wide variety of desirable flavors, it is…

ISC Barrel Account Manager, Chad Spalding, recently sat down with the Master Distiller at Maker’s Mark, Greg Davis.…

In every facet of our craft, coopering high-quality oak barrels is the ultimate goal. Quality assurance starts in the log…

ISC Barrel Account Manager, Chad Spalding, recently sat down with one of Wild Turkey’s Master Distillers – Eddie Russell.…

The thing about crafting good whiskey is it takes a long time – years aging in oak barrels – before…

A few weeks ago, ISC Barrel Account Manager Chad Spalding had the opportunity to sit down and have a chat…

On December 1, The Bourbon Show podcast aired an episode with an interview from our very own Brad Boswell.…

Independent Stave Company (ISC) is pleased to announce the construction of a research center dedicated to oak innovation and experimentation…

In September, 20 employees, local and state officials, loggers, community members, and media representatives gathered at the site of the…

As a fourth generation family cooperage company, our roots run deep. For over 100 years ISC has grown by focusing…

ISC is proud to craft premium bourbon barrels to age America’s Great Spirit. Learn how our barrels are made in…