Coopers Walk
On Monday the 16th of June, I met with Richard Paterson of Whyte and Mackay (Richard is the President of the Coopers Federation) at Glenfiddich to walk the proposed route for the 'Coopers Walk' which will take place on the 1st of August this year.
The idea of the walk is to raise awareness of the contribution that Coopers make to the whisky industry and members of the Distilling community will be invited to take part.
I think sometimes we forget the contribution of the Coopers, always hidden behind the scenes. Their work is very labour intensive and the Coopers use the same tools and skills that they would have in the last century. They also spend an incredible 5 years learning their craft before they become fully fledged Coopers.
Our Head Cooper at Glenfiddich, Don Ramsay went through a 6 year apprenticeship back in 1961 and has to be one of the most experienced coopers in the trade.
The walk will begin and end (appropriately) at Speyside Cooperage in the village of Craigellachie, along the way we will pass many Speyside Distilleries, including Craigellachie, Convalmore, Kininvie, Balvenie, Glenfiddich, Benrinnes, Glenallachie, Aberlour and Macallan.
We cross the Spey river in Aberlour via the suspension bridge before heading up the riverside to the Macallan beat. Later, we cross the river again at the famous Telford bridge built by Thomas Telford 250 years ago.
We have a few pleasant surprises planned for participants along the route, we’ll update you on the outcome!
Of course as well as myself we will have a Coopers presence from our own Cooperage at Glenfiddich, the only Distillery-based Cooperage still in operation.
Richard is keen that every participating Distillery bring a cask stave to the event and while the walk takes place Coopers at Speyside Cooperage will build a cask from the various staves. If you are in the area we would be happy to see you there, 10 AM start at Speyside Cooperage in Craigellachie.
Ian Millar
Responses to "Coopers Walk"
Rene | June 28, 2008
Hi Ian,
Just discovered your blog, great! Good to see businesses embracing the opportunities of the internet.
Sounds like an interesting walk you've got planned for the 1st of August. If you like I can promote this on the www.GreaterSpeyside.com web site?
Happy blogging!
Rene
Ian Millar | July 1, 2008
Rene
Happy for you to put this one on your site, it`s going to be a fairly low key walk with the emphasis on Coopers and the wonderful work they still do in support of the whisky industry.
All the best
Ian
Andy Scott | July 28, 2008
Hope the walk goes well. Perhaps you might like to drink a small toast to an old cooper -my father Marshall Scott ,who passed away in May. He owned the cooperage at Willowbank in "The Craig" in the early 70's.
Is there history of Speyside Cooperage available anywhere?
Andrew Scott
Ian Millar | August 11, 2008
Andy
We raised a toast to all current and former coopers, I didn`t really understand just how many cooperages we had in the area.
I will be writing a full report on the Coopers walk in the next couple of weeks and will mention your contact.
All the best
Ian