Loch Lomond’s focus on quality is unwavering. The distillery owns its own cooperage, ensuring that barrel repairs and charring are carried out to an exacting standard so every cask is perfect for maturing our Loch Lomond spirit.
Loch Lomond’s focus on quality is unwavering. The distillery owns its own cooperage, ensuring that barrel repairs and charring are carried out to an exacting standard so every cask is perfect for maturing our Loch Lomond spirit.
Coopering of casks is an age-old skill, the nuances of which have seen little change over the centuries. At Loch Lomond Whisky we’re fortunate to be one of only four distilleries in Scotland to have our own on-site cooperage. Our team of seasoned professionals and eager apprentices carefully manage the quality of all of the casks to ensure that the whisky is maintained to the highest possible standards.
The Loch Lomond Cooperage was opened in 1994. The senior cooper was Tommy Wallace, who subsequently progressed on to become the President of the National Cooperage Federation between 2006-2008. Loch Lomond employs 7 full time experienced coopers with many years experience working for the company. Loch Lomond is one of only four distilleries in Scotland that has their cooperage on site.
Our expert team examines every new cask that arrives on-site, they carry out repairs and maintenance on oak casks from all over the world. They even rejuvenate casks using our De-char / Re-char (DCRC) process. Each year, our team maintains and repairs over 30,000 casks, which is absolutely vital in creating quality and consistency in our whisky maturation.
Find out more about our DCRC process below.
Our expert team examines every new cask that arrives
on-site, they carry out repairs and maintenance on oak casks from all over the world. They even rejuvenate casks using our De-char / Re-char (DCRC) process. Each year, our team maintains and repairs over 30,000 casks, which is absolutely vital in creating quality and consistency in our whisky maturation.
Find out more about our DCRC process below.
Having our own Cooperage has two main benefits. First and foremost – it's all about quality. Having a team of dedicated coopers managing our casks means that our Master Blender, Michael Henry, can ensure more consistent maturation year on year to maintain the signature style of Loch Lomond. Secondly, it really helps in building our innovation and flavour creation. Steam & Fire for example uses heavily charred casks to impart additional sweetness into the whisky – something we can do using the skill and craft of the cooperage to elevate the signature character of Loch Lomond Whisky.
Having the Cooperage increases the life of every cask – a well maintained and properly managed cask can last in excess of 60 or 70 years from first fill, refill through to re-char. Even after the cask has been used in the production of Malt whisky, it can then be used in the production of grain whisky, extending the life even further. The years of knowledge and experience in our team of Coopers means they can really get the most out of our casks to really help create truly flavourful whisky.
Loch Lomond is one of only FOURdistilleries in Scotland to have an on-site cooperage (Balvenie, Glenfiddich & Girvan the other 3).
Our qualified coopers are working on approximately 22 casks per day, which means more than 30,000 casks will be checked, repaired, or rejuvenated in our Cooperage every year.
Browse our range of award-winning single malt, single grain and limited-edition whiskies.
Browse our range of award-winning single malt, single grain and limited-edition whiskies.
