A workman prepares a cask to be heated over an open fire to ensure it is tight, and to aid in shaping it.
A workman prepares a cask to be heated over an open fire to ensure it is tight, and to aid in shaping it, at the Speyside Cooperage in Craigellachie, Scotland. The Cooperage, which is the only one open to the public, started as a family business in 1947. They manage to repair and build up to 150,000 oak casks per year. Each 'Cooper' is paid per cask and they can each expect to produce 20-30 casks per day. The hardest working 'Coopers' can earn up to GBP 60,000 per year. Despite being in an era very much controlled by technology the 'Coopers' still resort to using traditional tools such as hollowing knives, dowelling stock, flagging irons and inside shaves. Last year it was estimated that Scottish Whisky Exports brought in GBP 5 Billion in Global sales. 'Scotch Whisky' has now overtaken Refined Petroleum to become the country's largest Export. An estimated 11 bottles per second were produced in 2011.
Size: 4256px × 2832px
Location: Craigellachie, Scotland.
Photo credit: © SWNS / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: barrel, cask, casks, cooperage, drink, international, news, oak, scotch, scotland, scottish, service, south, team, west, whiskey
