How the NY Cooperage Makes Up to 100 Whiskey Barrels a Week - Handmade

Adirondack Barrel Cooperage uses traditional coopering methods to build spirit barrels out of American oak. Their one-of-a-kind barrel charring and toasting process imparts complex flavors in spirits, like smoke, coconut, vanilla, caramel, and more. www.adirondack...
Credits:
Producers: Carla Francescutti, Pelin Keskin
Director: Carla Francescutti
Camera: Murilo Ferreira, Carla Francescutti
Editor: Carla Francescutti
Executive Producer: Stephen Pelletteri
Development Producer: McGraw Wolfman
Coordinating Producer: Stefania Orrù
Audience Engagement: Daniel Geneen, Terri Ciccone
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For more episodes of 'Handmade,' click here: trib.al/n8RT1sS
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[@eater]

What's your favorite barrel-aged spirit?

[@RyokoX37]

Laphroaig!

[@nikkovaldez3202]

@@RyokoX37 AMEN

[@michaelshepherd7572]

Bourbon of course.

[@ditzydoo4378]

Two, Bourbon (Maker's Mark) and Irish Whisky (Jameson)

[@wanderingfirbolg6738]

Whiskey.... and I'm learning to appreciate Bourbon.... which is relatively new to me, as an European.

[@chrispianlucas9653]

"We are one of the few in the whiskey and spirit business that firebend." Has a cooler sentence ever been said? Damn!

[@TheKirbyT]

Learned it from the dragons.

[@theaterofsouls]

hahahaha

[@christopherpaik]

Everything changed when the fire nation attacked

[@mikeaddison-saipe5820]

Agreed - hadn't thought about that - but hell yeah - what a cool sentence :)

[@herebejamz]

Hate to be a downer, but it's probably just the distinction between using steam heating to bend the wood as opposed to fire heating.

[@blackwunk]

I don't even drink and I find this absolutely fascinating!

[@EikottXD]

Congrats don't start or stay sober 👍🏻 Lord knows I'm drinking whiskey right now though.

[@ismaelamaya9755]

Interesting...

[@centpushups]

You can always just taste it.

[@Pumpkinking64]

absolutely nobody cares if you don’t drink

[@Ryan-yo4dg]

@@Pumpkinking64 I care that he doesn't drink because I, too don't drink

[@walterluiz4694]

Amazing. Very good. I am from Brazil and get one barrel from my passed father in law that from more than 30 years have "cachaça" in it. I am very happy in see that video. Thank you.

[@samiam9008]

Best of luck. NY needs people like you.

[@joey0077d]

Seen used wine barrels and those are not light to pick up. Always wonder how they where made and now I know. Thanks for sharing the making process. 👍🏼

[@BauldeagleX]

Built in Scotland. Love hearing that.

[@sicnarf6971]

This makes my glass of Bourbon taste so much better

[@Widderic]

I sell whiskey. I have some barres in my house. I never knew how much care went in to sanding the wood and reapplying the rings. Very awesome.

[@paulo4771]

Nice video and setup. Almost makes me wish I had a use for one of them. :) But mainly, I want a job there,

[@rongolgin2864]

Great job ..thats the professional way of doing it .

[@MetaPrometheus]

This was extremely informative! Thank You!

[@sammy5576]

they are fire-bending , this guy is a fire bender

[@capitalengine366]

that was a fantastic video.

[@BigBammer]

The fire nation is here

[@InActionReaction]

I really want to have a tour!

[@DrubieDoobieDoo]

If that man can build barrels like that, I’d love to see what his homes looked like that he built.

[@MACAUOFW]

Amazing keep the tradition going sir...

[@MrModmustang]

Awesome.

[@ssweeps]

Are they union?

[@chrisstone75]

Bro I pass this building everyday

[@azceefgcd9492]

fire bending pog

[@pawfootage]

It's always fun listening to someone who truly understands the process. Never thought it was so involved. Great video. More like these.

[@robertmason2707]

How do you know he understands it, if you don't?

[@AndrewMellor-darkphoton]

Sounded more like bragging

[@dsy6238]

@@AndrewMellor-darkphoton Sounds more like jealousy from you Do not mistake pride for bragging, for one is positive and one is negative.

[@drivestowork]

Everything is a learning process. Nearly any subject can be fascinating if you're listening/speaking to a dedicated, passionate, enthusiast! I've been an (amateur) whitesmith for pushing on 15 years now and I'm still learning new old things!

[@trooperdgb9722]

@@drivestowork That is well said! I too find that listening to an enthusiast....a happy enthusiast..on almost ANY subject...can be interesting!

[@asiridalugoda]

After all the process to make the flavor, then you drink that whiskey with Cola.

[@Cellottia]

A travesty!!

[@spookgriffith2892]

Speak for yourself, not me.

[@FanboyFilms]

Maybe the cola is aged in fine barrels as well.

[@NinjaSushi2]

It taste good.

[@NinjaSushi2]

@Daniel M jack and coke? Jim and coke?

[@potatomatop9326]

So these are the dudes who made donkey kong suffer...

[@mannypaneser1618]

Under rated comment lol

[@markserrano4586]

Suffer or gave him purpose?

[@olafurandersson6875]

@@markserrano4586 this is getting a little philosophical

[@falosny]

Kong threw the barrels tho

[@PugilistCactus]

Hey man, he started it.

[@Fibozzy]

3:57 "we're one of the few cooperages in the country that firebend" Fire nation cooperages: 👁️👄👁️

[@devanman7920]

haha

[@imhuemankeepURcolorsforcrayons]

Was looking for this comment! 🤣

[@ursamines7643]

The care that is put into making these barrels is amazing

[@johnstonejaxfldoxmebitch7388]

Now I know why whiskey is so damned expensive.

[@roymyers8575]

I’d like to buy one because they’re a perfect American success story.

[@markbrophy5454]

That's nothing, watch the videos on how to make a piano or guitar.

[@wdwerker]

Serious respect for his approach to building barrels ! As a 40+years custom woodworker when you build multiples with quality in mind small refinements in the process take it from a craft to an art. It’s nice to see modern equipment and traditional values blended so well.

[@chd_123]

“Only cooperage that firebend” wuuuut 😳

[@FahimMahbub89]

Cooperage- the last firebender.

[@josephblazosky7069]

Didn't say we were the only, said we are one of a few that fire bend to make spirit barrels. There are other cooperages fire bend as well.

[@dylankirby8162]

@@josephblazosky7069 i believe hes making a reference to avatar, not actual fire- bending but the type that allows you to shoot magic fire out of your hands

[@kweukuafirim]

Well played

[@hoilst]

I also like how says that "Every piece is hand-delivered...to that machine". WHOOOOOOOOOA. BECAUSE PLACING A PLANK IN A MACHINE RESULTS IN A POORER STAVE.

[@innerlocus]

Now, let us know what brands to buy that use your barrels.

[@Chris-oo8ue]

Yes please

[@RebeccaPaige]

It's pretty much NE area craft bourbon

[@EikottXD]

@@frobinsonj thx

[@BuffaloNickel9]

I now don't want to drink any bourbon in any barrels but this gentleman's White Oak barrels made to Perfection everything in house and he's quite humble I've never seen another Cooperage but I know this guy has the best

[@Widderic]

@@floki1664 go have a shirley temple and get bent while you're at it

[@chrisyang6687]

For a whole 16 minutes, 23 seconds longer than the video, I wanted to build barrels. Then I remembered I have a day job and no time for dreams :'(

[@Dbars19]

you have a job? wow

[@absolutetuber]

same here bro......thats what happens every time i watch these types of videos. i think next i'm going to dream about owning a metal shop and creating cast iron cookware as thats the next video at the top of my recommendations

[@johnm.515]

I bought a sawmill with no one to sell lumber to. Just want to cut wood. No I have a huge pile of lumber

[@trex69]

This is american quality and workmanship at its best.It's good to see people still take pride in their work.

[@infinite_pi]

what about guns

[@atlaivargas6773]

@@infinite_pi amen to that

[@GeorgeEstregan828]

Then the "Made in China" attacked. Haha

[@danieln9909]

@@GeorgeEstregan828 just like everything Chinese made, it will break right away.

[@TheBurnknight]

@@danieln9909 same goes for iphones. worst phones money can buy

[@EikottXD]

I like how he's honest and says generally no leaks instead of just lying and saying our products are 100% perfect.

[@pipeflagg]

Badass George Lucas

[@safffff1000]

Big difference, this barrel maker has honor and sincerity

[@parishaydaressences3359]

👌👌👌

[@vengefulspirit99]

4:00 Everything changed when the bourbon makers attacked.

[@vincentnguyen3068]

Only the Woodworker, master of all 4 liquor barrels could stop them.

[@allisontallantmcculley1047]

@@vincentnguyen3068 but when the world needed him most....he vanished

[@TeibokChyneakaTei]

we need a new series of the "Woodworker"

[@filthycasual8074]

@@TeibokChyneakaTei we sure do

[@e.b.ramirez2140]

This is probably one of the more concise explanations, done in a minimal amount of time, on any subject, on KZbin. I can honestly say, I've enjoyed it very much. It's nice, to not only see the process, have a brief, yet thorough explanation in its entirety. It is these types of people, that take such great pride in creating something of beauty, value, and integrity, that continues to give me hope in the future of this country. If you're going to do something, do it as best you can. Excellent work, both at the cooperage and on the video shoot.

[@brianb579]

"This wood is hand delivered to that one machine" this is how far machines have taken us.

[@Cyrribrae]

Boy yep. That sure is a sentence.

[@russellzauner]

@Asura Code but the liquid controls us both...

[@ginger_nosoul]

The modern day definition of handmade lol

[@NYCfrankie]

Think about how this was done in say prohibition days one of the main reasons prohibition was repealed was the depression and jobs were needed there were hundreds of thousands of jobs created in these types of industries id personal love to see how it was done before machines though during prohibition im sure machines were still in use then though

[@MrNeosantana]

It's a weird sentence, yes, but I guess he's saying that it could have been completely automated where a conveyor belt drops them into the machine and an extractor could send it to another conveyor belt. It's much more personal and there's way more quality control for variables when you put each piece individually by hand.

[@PunschRS]

Working at a cooperage myself it's always interesting to see how other cooperages operate, enjoyed seeing all the things they do differently, and the things they do the same way as us.

[@SordidandSalted]

How'd you get into that? I've done some traditional style cooperage for the local historical society but I'd love to get into the industry

[@ginger_nosoul]

Would you call this more or less "handmade" than how you do it your cooperage?

[@PunschRS]

@@SordidandSalted Well my dad is a master cooper so it was kinda easy to get into the craft. There are so many different tasks that you can't really educate yourself to it. Just try to get an apprenticeship and show that you're capable of doing a wide variety of things.

[@PunschRS]

@@ginger_nosoul almost exactly the same I'd say, they make the cask heads exactly as we do, they raise the barrels a bit differently but still the same principle. No one pays a cooper to stand and make a barrels by hand using axes etc, when you can make an as good barrel 20x faster with machines.

[@johnstonejaxfldoxmebitch7388]

@@PunschRS How much do these barrels cost, roughly?

[@AzSin75]

no ones giving a shoutout to the amazing wife that gave him the idea to start a cooperage? thats a woman right there

[@VanceAndrews]

Roommate.

[@VanceAndrews]

Add time or?

[@VanceAndrews]

Adam or half

[@VanceAndrews]

Calling her now? Bar tend and break stand ERS edit typed not Heard From the Bible Eve? In the television Eve instead.

[@arnabseal7629]

The production quality of both the barrels and this video is quite literally amazing.

[@Passionforfoodrecipes]

Woodn't you know, I've really *grained* so much knowledge here!

[@BiggMo]

Your puns are on fire today.

[@Passionforfoodrecipes]

@grogdizzy Oh now you're getting me *fired up!*

[@SnowDeemy]

new song here kzbin.info/www/bejne/gaDJm4R3hpiUmM0

[@MStaal89]

I love listening to people who understand their job. No matter what job it is

[@andrewfleming611]

Sadly, its fear of competition and the close guarding of trade skills that's going to help kill industries like this. Working in ceramics, my teacher used to say that maybe one in a hundred students went on to work as potters, but the other ninety-nine were customers.

[@TrolloTV]

Yeah, thats not really a viable craft anymore. There are college diplomas for ceramics as an industrial thing though, at least where i live. Those guys go on to well paid technician or engineering jobs in manufacturing of ceramic isolators and all kinds of highly specialized stuff

[@jjb2244]

The crazy thing I thought while watching this was imagine. How much skill it took to make barrels without power tools.

[@BourbonISvegan]

The guy is an artist. I want one 👌🏻 Even an empty one 🥃

[@BiggMo]

New barrels sell for about $1000 each

[@KoiAquaponics]

Very expensive stuff when new.

[@michaelstormoen]

@@BiggMo That is true for a premium 59-gallon wine barrel. However, mass-produced 53-gallon bourbon/whiskey barrels are closer to $200-225 and quality barrels can be had for under $300.

[@SnowDeemy]

new song here kzbin.info/www/bejne/gaDJm4R3hpiUmM0

[@filthycasual8074]

@@michaelstormoen very interesting

[@rieskimo]

This dude was laying down a CLINIC in cooper-ing. Damn I'm glad to have witnessed

[@ganjaraucher4203]

What an amazing and interessant Video. Never excpeted Barrel making would be so cool.

[@geromesmith7767]

Comment ça intéressant...but you are french?!

[@ganjaraucher4203]

@@geromesmith7767 no I am german

[@simonneuhold5681]

@@ganjaraucher4203 kuck dir swr handwerkskunst wie man ein Fass baut an

[@ganjaraucher4203]

@@simonneuhold5681 Danke nochmal für den Tipp hab mir die Doku grad angeschaut und ist sehr geil.

[@SnowDeemy]

new song here kzbin.info/www/bejne/gaDJm4R3hpiUmM0

[@Crazt]

I just looked up their site. I wish they were at the stage where they had mini barrels for cocktail aging or home wine aging.

[@johnganggang9992]

thats the reason why they are so big. its not cost effective to make the big ones, and its super super wasteful if u spend all that time on a barrel that cant hold liquor

[@21cup]

You can buy second hand ones from wineries...but they'll be big ofc and less flavour imparting than when they were new

[@infinitypkz1]

I know they do small barrels but you have to buy in quantities! I would reach out, as I know they work closely with their distillers and wineries through the life cycle of the barrels.

[@HarryP457]

It is enormously gratifying, and reassuring, to see this ancient art living on in our modern age. Hats off to the law makers for defining Bourbon as aged on new oak barrels thus helping to ensure the survival of the cooperage as an entity.

[@adamlittle9941]

Best whisky for me is aged in barrels that have already been used, but the barrels have to start somewhere, I appreciate their work

[@onewatch488]

This is for making bourbon specifically. Its a protected product or whatever they're called so it has to be made a certain way in the us

[@judgeholden849]

Yea scotch is generally better than bourbon. I don't often tell people though, because I don't want the millenials who discovered bourbon and ruined the market a few years ago to do the same thing to single malt. Fortunately a lot of their pallets can't handle peat...and to a lot of them looking cool is more important than flavor

[@NinjaSushi2]

@@judgeholden849 bourbon taste good. Scotch is great but damn I love a simple Jim Beam and coke sometimes.

[@jb76489]

@@judgeholden849 congratulations on having an opinion

[@jasonpeebles2122]

My father was a Cooper and his father🤩 They always had the angels share🙄🤣 It’s now a dying trade here in Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Keep it up these trades need to keep going👍🏻

[@akshaygupta6011]

4:30 The background music reminds me of the Game of thrones music.

[@kylebushey4590]

It sounds like light of the seven

[@vulcan1429]

You will never see these professional Coopers say how or where they are re-planting Oak or how much acreage is under development for regrowth. EVER!

[@BigHWorks]

I have spent a lot of time in KY studying the whisky making processes. My visits include a large volume cooperage. As a woodworker, all I can say is WOW! This barrel is an awesome product and I am betting makes a fantastic bourbon. I want one of these barrels. Well made video by the way, congratulations to Adirondack Barrel Cooperage on promoting their brand so well.

[@yeshishakya7207]

Hi

[@Lu-cho]

Fake: Title of video: *"Made by machine*" 😷

[@dapacreative]

These barrels are a work of art.

[@parishaydaressences3359]

🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥👌👌👌

[@MessyTimes]

We hand char every episode of *Messy Times* as well. So we're almost the same! kzbin.info

[@dalebannon8503]

There are three types of coopers. These gentleman are TIGHT coopers; that is, they make casks that can hold liquids.

[@j565tyty]

Did he just say "firebend"

[@SnowDeemy]

new song here kzbin.info/www/bejne/gaDJm4R3hpiUmM0

[@jimmydickson8854]

Very interesting how you make barrels as you say there is various methods your cooperage is very modern and efficient ,well done I’m impressed old jimmy ,west australia

[@BLaCkKsHeEp]

"We're one of the few Cooperages in the country that firebend." **The Avatar joined the conversation**

[@leonidasg2257]

Man imagine doing that job back in the day without modern machines. Must have been a fine craft.

[@forgotn42]

These sorts of videos are my absolute favorite from Eater. I love seeing a master craftsman talk about what they do.

[@nithiananthan1]

@Eater your music/track selection is on point. Is it possible that you guys include a track-list as well or perhaps a link to where I might be able to find the tracks/songs you guys have used for this video (and the rest too). Thank you!

[@jimsannerud6254]

Amazing as this is, it's almost unbelievable to think that coopers used to do this all by hand without the machinery.

[@eddarby469]

I agree. Thinking of the things that were done in my field before there were computers just blows me away.

[@hughjaass3787]

This fifteen minute video about a topic that only needs 2 mins to actually explain. 😪🥱🥱

[@Laxkorv]

Anyone know the song at 6:30?

[@GrImReaPeR12361]

The missing

[@billholmes6639]

“Each piece is hand delivered to the machine”, WOW, that’s real a real talent!!

[@poob2372]

Ok, but that's what the world calls for nowadays. What's your lazy ass doing?

[@filthycasual8074]

@@poob2372 fr these people so quick to judge when they would do the exact same thing

[@poob2372]

@@filthycasual8074 yeah, and the thing is, the machines still need to be operated

[@holdemNE1]

I came here strictly for the content of how a barrel is made but was consumed by the editing between live action shots, sit down interviews, the history facts, machinery vs manpower as well as the entire assembly explanations. This video was complete and thorough and a true pleasure to watch. Extremely well done.

[@martinbeirne7621]

This is a dying art I am glad you focus on quality and it’s great that it American made.

[@filthycasual8074]

whiskey will never die

[@Joeygalvez494]

You heard it here folks. They're firebenders

[@matthieuboulianne678]

Watching this makes me want to drop everything and start making barrels. And by making barrels, I mean work for you.

[@Dhamian]

That lady is a top tier entrepeneur

[@Hortonfarms1]

Without a fine barrel, many spirits and wines would not stand the test of time or taste. Great business.

[@EDWEIRDITUDE]

American Iroh, actual dragon from the west

[@spartacus1610]

He’s the dragon of the East

[@wage4598]

As much as it's sad to watch an industry die I can't say someone made a bad decision by owning one of these companies if you really enjoy it. And it sounds like this guy does honestly

[@danielhowsare778]

I'm impressed with how any nuance of the manufacturing process is spun into a marketing ploy. "our workers are often injured on the job, we like to think their blood imparts a mellow flavor, along with their life force.

[@tiacho2893]

Then little boy in me giggled at "we bung bore it". The chemist and whiskey drinker in me loves the the chemistry of temperature of volatility and how it affects flavour.

[@gideonwackers7693]

I kind of want to bung bore some thermocouples into a barrel, seeing how deep the heat actually penetrates and the temperature profile inside a stave would be pretty damn interesting.

[@aframs-cctaf-rams-cct6424]

I wasn’t expecting this much human labour.

[@AllenHanPR]

Without these barrels I couldn't become the alcoholic I am today. Cause I only drink whiskey.

[@theshabs]

Aren't these for bourbon?

[@stephenanderle5422]

Me. I am more of a vino! Conosiuor.

[@infinitypkz1]

Knowing this team personally I cannot say enough about the craftsmanship, care, and passion they bring to the table! Take a look at Cooperstown Distilling, Brothers Cut Bourbon, 1911 Bourbon, and Iron Smoke Bourbon all made in the barrels. The product is next level, and all spirit brands need to take a close look at Adirondack Barrel

[@MessyTimes]

Better than taking a look, I'll be taking a tipple!

[@WhitfieldProductionsTV]

you guys breaking down pallet skids? I find that wood to actually be really really good for barrel making.

[@geecee1990]

My last name is Cooper. I've always loved learning about this craft and appreciate you making this video. I have followed my family line to before we existed here in the U.S and my family was indeed working in this craft just a couple hundred years ago. I've also been a woodworker for the last 20+ years and worked building homes to put myself through college. So cool to see someone with similar background picking up this awesome craft!

[@magsdesigns7340]

Listening to someone who truly knows the process is always so damn wonderful.

[@TheMiniatureRobot]

20% of comments: Wow, this is pretty cool 80% of comments: Firebend? 😲

[@davidmayes4212]

I really love how organized and clean his work area is. It's very pleasing.

[@mikewagner8125]

Very interesting an d you're providing a real world service. I'm interested because I have one of only two mini-barrels made for the Bacardi family. My friend's father worked for the Bacardi family for years and was given one of those barrels. It's since come to me and I've been storing sherry in it for about 20 years. Periodically I need to empty it, fill it with hot water multiple times and carefully push the hoops down a bit. For that I use a wide blade screw driver and a ballpeen hammer. I wish I could get it "updated with your fire.

[@russellzauner]

Internet: This whiskey Me: *oak tincture*

[@xxnixxonx]

I used to stack those staves in morganton GA and it was one of the most backache laborious jobs i have ever worked, terrible conditions Osha would flip out the particulates in the air was unimaginable but nobody would call so not all glam and glory, thats why they showed you the barrel makers not the stave makers.

[@cmweinreich]

This dude knows his stuff, kudos to him and his team

[@imout671]

I've worked Whiteoak baskets all my life. 5th generation and i can't hardly sip any American bourbon that doesn't taste like white oak smells so I'd say yeah the flavor is definitely from the wood. I remember dating my wife and when I saw she had 7 White oak trees in her back yard I knew she was the one or at least I took it as a strong sign. Still hitched 25 yr later

[@bensmith7536]

the staff look like they really take pride in their work.

[@chrislusk3531]

This is amazing. (FYI, bourbon does not have to be American White Oak, just oak.)

[@shawnwesson5667]

Such a beautiful, painstaking process

[@TheMNbassHunter]

He did get one thing slightly incorrect. It is not a law that the wood has to be new American White Oak. It just needs to be new Oak. It could be sourced from anywhere as long as it is Oak.

[@kriti8434]

Hold up, is that the "light of the seven" theme from game of thrones?

[@laughingachilles]

3:30 - So the lobbyists guaranteed that no one could improve upon the current methods in order to protect their jobs. Meanwhile there are distilleries in Europe which understand that reusing barrels can improve the flavour of whatever one distills in them. The funny thing is that the chemistry of what creates these wonderful drinks is being unlocked and in short order we will crack the code and be able to produce a superior product within a very short time frame. Once that happens the idea of traditional production will die off as even the traditionalists will understand there is absolutely no difference between the modern and traditional variety.

[@ditzydoo4378]

You sir are a true artisan, you let your skill do the talking in the industry.

[@steconway9199]

a true artisan does not use machines....

[@PaddyMcMe]

Anybody else want to see 'amateur' e-sports teams of Coopers vs Plumbers playing Mario Kart?

[@coopermiller3216]

as a cooper myself this is a fun watch

[@porp109]

You make barrels?

[@filthycasual8074]

is your operation similar

[@justhalog3318]

The country of origin of the oak doesn't matter. It just needs to be a new charred oak barrel. It doesn't have to be American oak