Scotland's First Minister Visits Independent Stave Co. in Kentucky

John Swinney, Scotland's First Minister, the head of its government, visited Independent Stave Co.'s Kentucky Cooperage and Kentucky Bourbon Barrel in Lebanon, Ky., Tuesday.

Independent Stave Company, a fourth-generation, family-owned business with more than 110 years of history. Its new and used cooperage operations support distillers and winemakers around the world, including Scotch whisky producers who rely on high-quality American oak barrels as part of their maturation process.

“First Minister Swinney’s visit to Independent Stave Company underscores a simple but important point: Fair spirits trade supports jobs, family businesses, rural manufacturing, cooperage, forestry, logistics, distillers and hospitality on both sides of the Atlantic,” said Michael Bilello, president/CEO of the American Whiskey Association. “Tariff relief for Scotch whisky is not just good for Scotland. It is good for Kentucky and for the broader barrel economy that connects American oak to the global whiskey industry.”

“For more than a century, Independent Stave Company has helped connect American oak, Kentucky craftsmanship and the global spirits industry,” said Brad Boswell, CEO, “First Minister Swinney’s visit is a meaningful reminder that strong trade relationships matter not only to distillers, but also to the cooperages, forestry partners, logistics providers and skilled associates behind every barrel. When open, fair-trade works, the entire whiskey ecosystem benefits.”