The Oak Cooperage (formerly known as A&K Cooperage) is a Missouri-based oak barrel-making company, established in 1972. It is based in Higbee, Missouri. ^{[1] [2]} They provide wine barrels to several notable companies, including Silver Oak Cellars, who purchased half of the company in 2000. They make white American oak barrels, air-dried between 18 and 36 months.

History

A&K Cooperage was established in Higbee, Missouri in 1972 as a keg business by D.L. Andrews and his son-in-law Dale Kirby. ^[3] They initially produced 5- to 20- gallon kegs but began concentrating on manufacturing 59-gallon American white oak barrels. ^[3] In 1988 they were involved in a court case and hired a New York attorney before they could collect $23,000 for a shipment of 200 barrels from a client who failed to make payment. ^[4]

Andrews died in 1996, leaving Dale Kirby and son, Matthew, to run the business. As a major supplier to Silver Oak Cellars, a top winery in northern California producing Cabernet Sauvignon, in 2000, A&K Cooperage formed an agreement with Silver Oak who bought out half the company. ^{[3] [5]} They also purchased several hundred acres of timberland to maintain production. ^[3] Today the company produces about 3000 out of some 5000 barrels annually exclusively for Silver Oak. ^[3] In the 2000s, the company has aimed to expand its clientele to smaller and mid-sized wine producers, and since 2007 has used lasers to etch winery logos on the heads of the barrels they make. ^[3] The barrels have been used by several successful wineries who have won national and prestigious industry awards for their wines and have attributed A&K Cooperage in aiding the quality of their wines, including Silver Oak Cellars. ^{[6] [7]}

Production

The Oak Cooperage has been producing 60 (59) gallon barrels, but they also make 30, 48, and 70 gallon barrels of both American and French oak. ^[8] They are made in the European tradition, treating the American oak wood with a process known as fire bending, toasted over an oak fire, which renders the wood more pliable. ^{[3] [8]} The barrels are then air-dried for approximately 18 to 24 months, but up to 36 months. ^{[3] [9]} The source of the oak is the forests in northern Missouri and Kentucky. ^[3] The barrels typically have eight galvanized hoops and can be free of char due to the mild slow burning process of barrel making. ^[10] Shipments are then sent to their clients, which in 1982 was stated to be with minimum orders of 25 barrels. ^[10]

References

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