Three Virginia Locations Serve Speyside Bourbon Cooperage

Wood products represent the 3rd-largest manufacturing industry in Virginia and a rich, centuries-old legacy. Thanks to this abundant supply of raw materials, it comes as no surprise that the Commonwealth is a natural landing point for companies in this sector. As Speyside considered locations in Virginia, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania for its newest cooperage and stave mill, accessibility to white oak for bourbon barrel production was a key focus. Fortunately, Virginia’s 16 million acres of forestland (Virginia Department of Forestry, 2017) would allow the stave mill to procure approximately 80% of its white oak logs from Virginia growers.