Coopers

A cooper is a craftsman who makes and repairs wooden casks, barrels, and other containers used for storing and transporting liquids such as wine, beer, and spirits. The trade centers on shaping wood, assembling staves into a watertight form, and securing the structure with hoops and fittings, followed by sealing and finishing work.

The practice has ancient roots and became highly developed in Europe during the Middle Ages and early modern period. Coopers were essential to maritime trade and the storage of liquids, and the craft often operated within guilds or apprenticeship systems that preserved techniques and standard sizes for casks used in transport, aging, and storage.

Oak is the traditional material of choice in many regions because of its strength and the flavor influence it can impart to beverages. Staves are cut and bent to form the barrel shape, heated or steamed to achieve the desired flexibility, and then assembled with hoops. Heads or ends are fitted, and the interior is sealed by calking with pitch or tar. Some barrels are toasted or charred on the inside to alter flavor and aroma during aging, especially for whiskey and rum.

In contemporary industry, cooperages produce barrels for wine and spirits, as well as casks for aging and special applications. Although metal and plastic containers are common in many sectors, high-quality oak barrels remain valued for certain aging processes and product profiles. The craft continues as a specialized, skilled trade with regional traditions and enduring relevance in the beverage sector.