independent stave company - kentucky cooperage

Tramping the Bourbon Trail and hearing of each distillery's specific barrel "char" I really wanted to see where the barrels were made. The men and women at the ISC are doing it right and doing it well. Wow to their craftsmanship! The tours are only offered during the week at 9:30 and 1:00, so make sure to plan accordingly. Our tour was at maximum capacity, but was easy to follow and hear due to headsets and televisions throughout the tour. The tour begins with a video overview to explain the process before you go out into the plant. There, you get to see the barrel built, charred, and repaired. For the processes you can't full see, it is covered by the video or guide. There are no cameras allowed, and yes, that also includes phone cameras. (One gentleman in our group had to be asked twice to put his away). At end of the tour a cooper actually repairs a barrel that did not pass inspection-simply amazing. I enjoyed the tour immensely. Bathrooms are at the entrance as is the waiver you need to sign. There is a poster of their rules and when you sign in you are agreeing to abide by those rules. Good questions were asked and the HR director was able to answer them all with ease. After you finish here, head over to the "Shine Shack" Steve Beam's Craft Distillery just a little over a mile away.

This is a type of place you don't see everyday. Visited here while doing the Bourbon trail. I'm a distiller myself. Loved making this link in the chain!!!!!!!

As a DIY woodworker this might have been a little more interesting to me than most people, however my wife enjoyed it thoroughly also. We had a one on one tour although most tours might have up to 10 people on them. Took about 45 minutes as I recall. Stops at many stations with very good narrative. They encourage questions. Call ahead as you may need an appt. There is wood everywhere as you might expect, with fabrication and assembly from start to finish. Your are very close to the operations so you feel very involved. All indoors.

Enjoyed getting an up close view of how whiskey barrels are made. Very interesting. Guided tour of plant and use of headsets.

We only found out about this tour from the head distiller at Marker's Mark. He told us this is where they get their barrels. After our morning Maker's tour, we would have just enough time to take the 1pm tour. They had directions in the gift shop. I cannot remember the last time I have seen a group of people work so hard. Outside the temperature was in the 80's, it was much hotter in the production area. The free tour started out with a film, and then the guide put together a barrel for demonstration. A short walk and explanation to see where the barrels get their char. From there, a worker broke down a barrel to show how it is repaired if a problem exist. Even though the tour was less than a hour long, well worth seeing a behind the scene view of where my bourbon ages.

This tour is so well-done, hard to believe it's free. It really adds to the experience of touring some of the distilleries.Tours are twice a day, M - Fri. and last about 45 minutes. After viewing a short video, you're given safety glasses and headphones and follow a guide out into the factory. You make 3 or 4 stops, watch actual demostrations as well as several more videos. You even watch as the barrels go through the charring process. I can't say enough about this tour. One of the best I've ever taken, anywhere! Thanks so much.

We saw a sign for this place when we were leaving the Maker's Mark property so we decided to take a detour to check it out. About halfway there, we had to stop to ask for directions because there were no signs along the way. Unfortunately, once we arrived it was closed with a note on the door indicating it was closed for summer holidays. Maybe they should put a notice on the big sign on the highway instead!

Loved walking in the factory and watching how they make the barrels, very interesting. First you see a movie on how they are made, then you go thru the factory to see how it is actually made.

This place and one in Lebanon, Missouri are the only places that make barrels for bourbon distillers in America. There are two tours each day, at 9:30am and 1:00pm. The tour is free and takes less than an hour. Tourists must wear closed-toed shoes and sign a release. We were given headsets and safety glasses. Most parts of the tour included an explanatory video as well as explanations and answers to questions by the guide. They don't have a gift shop, but there was a case containing shirts and small barrels offered for sale. It's an interesting tour if you're in Lebanon at tour time.

We took the morning tour a few days ago. Lisa was our tour guide, Eric and Jacob also helped out. Everyone was friendly and helpful.It's not quite what I expected. Loud, hot, and chaotic. Where I once thought barrel-making was kind of romantic and historic, after seeing this facility, I saw that the men who work here are tough and hard-working. The tour gives a good overview of the process, though there are parts of facility which you don't get to see, or only see from a distance. It's a bummer that they don't allow photos, and while I understand the need to use the headsets, they were difficult to hear and cumbersome. That said, it's probably the best solution.

This is definitely the place to start the KY Bourbon Trail. This tour shows how it all begins. Our Tour Guide Lisa, could not have been better. She took time with us and answered all of our questions. It was great being so close to the charred barrels that we even left with a slight smell of oak on our clothes.The tour took about 45 minutes and was very thorough, not to mention FREE. We will be sure and recommend this place to anyone traveling in the area.

we had Lisa as a tour guide.. and she was rude the moment we met up and continued to be rude and quick with the tour.. my wife tried asking questions and she just blew her off..

A good tour to see barrels being made a lot of pride goes in each. Line employees were helpful in answering questions. You get so close you will smell like wood. This is good.

Interesting tour. The labor involved and skill exhibited in construction is pretty cool. The charring is not cool-cool, but it is 'cool'. To see the work going into the barrels and knowing the relevance of them makes the tour worth the time.

Very informative tour on how the barrels that the bourbon ages in are made. Recommend you visit if you have the time. You will learn about the barrel making process and get to see it in action. Tours are offered twice daily (9:30 am and 1:00 pm) and are free. You need to have closed toe shoes. The only unfortunate thing is that you can't take pictures to have memories of your visit. Just the smell of the toasted white oak is worth the visit.