Whisky Focus - Balvenie Apprentice Coopers Receive The Tools Of The Trade

The traditional craft of coopering received a boost as two new recruits began their apprenticeship in earnest when they were presented with their toolsets by Deacon Iain Lockhart of the Incorporation of Coopers of Glasgow and John Gaffney of the National Cooperage Federation in a ceremony at The Balvenie Distillery.

The young men, Kal Allen, 20, from Rothes and Jason Taylor, 17, from Archiestown, have whisky making and coopering in their blood, with generations of their families before them working in Speyside distilleries and cooperages. The duo will spend the next four years serving their apprenticeships before sitting exams to become fully qualified coopers.

Commenting on the appointment, The Balvenie Brand Manager, Jonny Cornthwaite said: “These are the first apprentice coopers at The Balvenie Distillery for almost 20 years, it shows a great commitment to the industry and further illustrates our handcrafted credentials. We really do live our values here at The Balvenie."

The Balvenie Distillery has a team of coopers mending and tending every cask used to mature its single malt Scotch whisky. Along with its other handcrafted whisky-making techniques, the cooperage makes The Balvenie the only distillery to employ all five of the traditional, rare whisky-making crafts.
 

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