LOUISVILLE, Ky.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
The Brown-Forman Cooperage celebrated 70 years of continuous
barrel-making excellence with a commemorative ceremony at its Louisville
location on February 10, 2016. Brown-Forman is the only major spirits
company to own and operate a new whiskey barrel-making facility.
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Brown-Forman Master Distiller Chris Morris talks about the rich history and importance of the Brown-Forman Cooperage. (Photo: Business Wire)
Founded in 1945, the Brown-Forman Cooperage is home to roughly 300
employees where more than 2,500 barrels per day are hand-crafted for the
aging of spirits such as Jack Daniel’s, Woodford Reserve, Old Forester,
Early Times, Canadian Mist, el Jimador, and Herradura. While these
products are found globally around the world, their journey to the
bottle began at a Brown-Forman Cooperage.
“No matter where you are in the world, in 165 countries, if you have a
glass of Jack Daniel’s, Woodford Reserve, Old Forester, Early Times, or
our tequilas, Herradura and el Jimador, keep in mind that every drop was
aged in a barrel that one of our cooperages made,” said Chris Morris,
Brown-Forman master distiller and spirits historian. “One-hundred
percent of the color and arguably more than 50% of the flavor are the
result of the work the men and women at our cooperages have done.”
In 2016, more than 600,000 American White Oak barrels will be produced
at the Brown-Forman Cooperage. Due to the growing demand for bourbon and
other American whiskeys, the Brown-Forman Cooperage operates and
produces barrels for more than 16 hours a day. During today’s
celebration, the cooperage employees were honored for their pride,
commitment, and dedication to their craft.
In addition to honoring the Cooperage employees, the ceremony included
of a variety of speakers with opening remarks from Phil Lynch, vice
president of Brown-Forman corporate communications, followed by Michael
Nelson, plant director of the Brown-Forman Cooperage, Alex Alvarez,
senior vice president, chief production officer, and Chris Morris,
Brown-Forman master distiller and spirits historian.
Throughout the ceremony, guests were reminded just how much the
Cooperage meant to the employees, the distilling process, and ultimately
the whiskey that is loved by consumers around the world. “As you leave
here, I encourage you to look at the banners that hang from the ceiling,
said Alex Alvarez, senior vice president, chief production officer,
Brown-Forman. “We don’t make Jack Daniel’s here. We don’t make Woodford
Reserve here. We don’t make Old Forester here. We don’t make Early Times
here. We make them better.”
The ceremony concluded with a commemorative “barrel roll” by the most
senior employee, Charlie Harden, who has been working at the Cooperage
for more than 40 years. At the end of the “barrel roll” Charlie and his
other team members were the first to sign the commemorative barrel.
Brown-Forman also has a cooperage in Decatur, Alabama, where it makes
barrels for Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey.
About Brown-Forman:
For more than 145 years, Brown-Forman Corporation (NYSE: BFA) (NYSE:
BFB) has enriched the experience of life by responsibly building fine
quality beverage alcohol brands, including Jack Daniel’s Tennessee
Whiskey, Jack Daniel’s & Cola, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey, Gentleman
Jack, Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel, Finlandia, Korbel, el Jimador,
Woodford Reserve, Canadian Mist, Herradura, New Mix, Sonoma-Cutrer,
Early Times, and Chambord. Brown-Forman’s brands are supported by nearly
4,400 employees and sold in approximately 160 countries worldwide. For
more information about the company, please visit http://www.brown-forman.com/.
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Brown-Forman Corporation
Tracy Frederick, 502-774-7271
tracy_frederick@b-f.com
Source: Brown-Forman Corporation