The Cooperage Business, Whiskey Barrel Sourcing, and Industry Innovations

Gavin welcomes Jessica Ann Zimlich and Zach Zimlich of ZAK Cooperage, discussing their family business history, which started in 1990. Zach's upbringing in the cooperage provided him with creative control over whiskey flavor profiles. The conversation covered the enduring consistency of cooperage techniques despite automation and the critical importance of responsibly sourcing white oak due to increased whiskey demand. They both shared observations from a trip to Scottish cooperages, where used barrels are the norm, contrasting with the US focus on new oak.