Oak stave
At our cooperages, the quality of our barrels is based above all on the excellence of our raw material: American white oak (Quercus alba). This noble wood comes exclusively from staves produced by Graf Brothers, a global benchmark in the supply of American white oak and in quarter and rift sawing for staves and high-end flooring.
The quality of our barrels is based above all on the excellence of our raw material
At our cooperages, the quality of our barrels is based above all on the excellence of our raw material: American white oak (Quercus alba).
This noble wood comes exclusively from staves produced by Graf Brothers, the world’s largest manufacturer of Rift and Quartered lumber and flooring.
The appalachians : The ultimate terroir for american white OAK
The wood used by our cooperages comes from the Appalachian mountain range, renowned for offering:
- Slow growth, due to altitude and harsh winters, ensuring fine and consistent growth rings,
- An optimal concentration of phenolic compounds, key to excellent wood–spirit interaction,
- High batch homogeneity, essential for ensuring consistent aromatic profiles.
This carefully selected forest terroir is the cradle of the finest American white oak — destined for the most demanding distilleries.
Unique expertise in sorting and processing
Graf Brothers
Graf Brothers sources its oak directly from private and public forests, either through standing timber purchases or by selecting pre-harvested logs.
Each log is carefully sorted according to strict criteria:
- Fine grain,
- Straightness and absence of defects,
- High radial yield for stave production.
For stave manufacturing, all sawing is performed strictly along the grain, ensuring:
- Optimal wood stability,
- Controlled spirit penetration,
- Extended barrel longevity.
- Address: 679 Johnson Lane, P.O. Box 458, South Shore, KY 41175
- Phone: (606) 932-3117
- Fax: (606) 932-3156
- Website: https://grafbro.com/
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