Veteran cooper leaves Glenfiddich distillery

BBC.com ^ | 29 December 2011

[Daffynition]

The longest-serving cooper in Scotland is to lay down his tools for the last time on Hogmanay.

Don Ramsay started working in the Glenfiddich distillery on Christmas Day 1961, when he was 15.

His employers said he has created more than 200,000 casks during his 50-year career.

The distillery honoured him in 2004 by releasing a limited bottling of Glenfiddich 1991 Vintage Reserve which carried his name.

[Daffynition]

[Daffynition]

Traditional cask capacities

Pin - 4.5 gallons
Firkin - 9 gallons
Kilderkin - 18 gallons
Barrel - 36 gallons
Hogshead - 54 gallons
Puncheon - 72 gallons
Butt - 108 gallons

[The Antiyuppie]

It’s a pretty amazing talent. I saw a show on how they are made and there is very little or even NO sealing material used.

[43north]

Two hogsheads, straight up please.

[iowamark]

To mark his retirement, he was presented with a specially-created miniature cask filled with whisky

I would rather have an oversize cask filled with whisky.

[Daffynition]

GLENFIDDICH 1991 Don Ramsay Bottling

Don Ramsay is the head cooper at Glenfiddich, and this is a limited edition bottling made from malt finished in specially selected Bourbon casks.

NO LONGER AVAILABLE. This 'Dearly Departed' whisky is a rare, discontinued bottling shown for information only

[Daffynition]

It’s a forgotten art.

Anyone know the name of the tool Mr. Ramsay is holding in the picture?

[RitchieAprile]

a ‘This Old House’ question!

[coloradan]

A google search on “cooper’s hammer” turns up “hammer-driver.”

[KarlInOhio]

200,000 is about 16 every work day. Imagine buiding a new barrel every 30 minutes for 50 years.

[ConservativeChris]

This is a little off topic, but I did a search (on Bing) for “fema bodybags” and this popped up in the ad section (on the right side):

Cadaver Bags
Style Is In The Bag. Save on Cadaver Bags!
Handbags.Shopzilla.com

Amused me to no end. I am no womens fashion expert, but I dont think many women want to buy a cadaver handbag.

[Daffynition]

That was a terrific lead! Thanks! From an Aussie site...

http://www.apjohn.com.au/products/the-complete-cooperage/cooper-tools-hammer-and-drivers

[Bubba Ho-Tep]

I was researching some statistic regarding slavery once and got a message in the sidebar that said “Looking for Slaves? Shop eBay.com”

[LukeL]

Sometimes we forget that there are still these kind of skilled trades around. I am sure one can make great money being a cooper, cobler or some other skilled craftsman.

[LukeL]

Sometimes we forget that there are still these kind of skilled trades around. I am sure one can make great money being a cooper, cobler or some other skilled craftsman.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Not a forgotten art here in Missouri.
The Independent Stave Company sends ready made white oak barrels by the thousands all over the world.

[Erik Latranyi]

Sometimes we forget that there are still these kind of skilled trades around. I am sure one can make great money being a cooper, cobler or some other skilled craftsman.

Oh, c'mon! Those are jobs Americans are unwilling to do!

/sarc

[blueunicorn6]

You can buy whiskey by the keg? Crap....and Christmas just went by.....now I’ll have to be good for a whole year.
“On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me
A keg of whiskey.”
Easy to remember, anyway.
I’d only have to make one whiskey run a week for Grandma.
Hopefully, there’s a volume purchase discount.

[Daffynition]

I can't even begin to imagine!

[Daffynition]

[Daffynition]

Not too many cooperages here in New England, anymore. You can see reenactment shops at Mystic Seaport and Sturbridge Village.

The wooden maple sap bucket is all but disappeared, since they now use plastic tubing and gravity feed.

Times they is 'a changin'

[Daffynition]

HAHAHA!

That *lit your fire* :D

[Daffynition]

The Coca-Cola Cooperage Facility, Atlanta, GA-Circa 1924

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Look up Independent Stave Company, Lebanon, MO.

[JoeProBono]