Barrels of Czech and French oak — split, raised and fire-bent by hand. A barrel where wine, whisky and spirits mature in depth, and that lasts for dozens of fills.
We split the staves along the grain, not on a saw — only then does the barrel seal and breathe. We raise them in a form, draw them with hoops and bend them to shape over fire. The inside is toasted to what will age within: gently for wine, heavily for spirit. An honest barrel lasts for dozens of fills and only improves with time.
Four kinds of barrel, from barrique to decorative. All made to measure — volume, oak and level of toast. Sample content; add your own barrels in your version.
A classic barrique for wine, a gentle toast for tannin and a note of vanilla.
from £480
A heavily charred barrel for spirits — caramel, smoke and colour.
from £560
A little cask for ageing spirits at home or as a gift.
from £110
A barrel as furniture — a table, a bar or a planter for the interior.
from £180We split the oak along the grain and air-dry it so the wood works and seals.
We set the staves into a rose and draw them together with assembly hoops.
Over the fire we bend the staves to the barrel form and toast the inside to its use.
We fit the final hoops, cut the croze groove and set the heads. The barrel is tested for tightness.
I make the barrels myself, from splitting the staves to the last hoop — not in mass production. I choose the oak by its grain so the barrel seals. An honest oak barrel can be re-toasted and used again years later; a hoop or head I replace. One barrel done properly beats ten done in a hurry.