It takes many years to grow an American Oak tree that will one day help make some of the world’s best bourbons and other distilled spirits. In our last story ‘The Journey from Forest Harvesting to Barrel‘ we discussed the tree harvesting process. In this story, we’ll share what happens next as logs make the trek from the forest to the log mill.
After logs are harvested in the forest, loggers transport their loads to one of our 11 domestic log yards for purchasing. Independent Stave Company Log Procurement has six main log buying yards located at our company-owned stave mill facilities and five satellite yards.
Independent Stave Company Stave Mills
- Morehead Wood Products, Morehead, KY
- Benton Wood Products, Benton, KY
- Ohio Stave Company, Zanesville, OH
- Blue River Wood Products, Salem, IN
- Salem Wood Products, Salem, MO
- New Florence Wood Products, New Florence, MO
Our Log Procurement team of 32 people works with approximately 3,500 active log suppliers to make the purchasing process as easy and efficient as possible. This team includes 23 log buyers covering 19 states in the Midwest and eastern parts of the United States. We are proud to have cultivated a team of log buyers who have over 225 years of combined log buying experience.
Our goal is to provide superior service to our suppliers by building long lasting relationships that are ethical, consistent and professional while purchasing high quality logs for bourbon staves at competitive prices that support our customers’ needs. ~Garret Nowell, ISC Log Procurement Manager
Log Buying Standards for ISC Spirit and Bourbon Barrels
Independent Stave Company has proprietary Log Buying Standards to ensure our Log Buyers consistently purchase only high-quality logs. Log Buyers educate log suppliers on our standards when visiting their facilities. Maximum and minimum cutting lengths and diameters are explained so suppliers know what we are looking for when purchasing logs. Developing good relationships with log suppliers is key as it aides in clear and easy log purchasing transactions.
These standards are not industry-wide, but specific to the high quality bourbon stave and heading pieces that our company-owned stave mills are set-up to craft. ISC’s Log Buying Standards make our log purchasing more consistent. The same log is consistently purchased the same way, regardless of the state it is purchased in or Log Buyer who purchases the log. This consistency gives log suppliers confidence in the quality of logs they can bring to our stave mills.
Log Buyers are audited every two weeks to ensure that they are following the set ISC standards. This system of checks and balances ensures that our log suppliers are paid for the quality wood they bring to us.
Steps to Log Purchasing
Chad Cook on Cultivating Relationships
Independent Stave Company Log Buyer Chad Cook (far right) explaining the log buying process to a distillery customer tour at Salem Wood Products. Chad has been with ISC Log Procurement since 2002.
“I was born and raised in the small town of Salem, MO. Today, I’m raising my own family here – together with my beautiful wife Kimberly.
The population of Salem is only approx. 5,000 but it is surrounded by the much larger rural area of Dent County. The town is driven off of the mining, timber and farming industries, all of which involve hard work and long hours to be successful. Being raised in this environment has definitely helped me to form positive, lasting relationships with local loggers.
Whether they are from Kentucky, Ohio, Missouri, or one of the other 19 states we cover, every log supplier is exposed to all the elements of the climate in the Central States. Regardless of over 100° summer heat (and humidity) to below freezing temperatures in the winter, they work hard to provide for their families.
When loggers drop off loads during those tough days, it’s especially important to take a minute to let them know they’re appreciated. We chat and learn from each other, whether it’s about life, logging, farming, hunting, or fishing. A lot of tall tales are exchanged I’m sure!
Every day, I want loggers to leave our log yard at Salem Wood Products a smile on their face. Being a consistent, fair log buyer with each and every supplier helps them get the most money out of their hard work. That’s how we build such great relationships with our loggers. It’s never a boring day getting to do business with such great people of the logging and saw milling industry.”
~ Chad Cook, Independent Stave Company Log Buyer
Independent Stave Company offers wooden barrels of different sizes and species for all your distilled spirits needs. Visit the ISC Barrels website here to fulfill your barrel quest.
Barrels for the World’s Finest Spirits
Find the Perfect Match Here.
Independent Stave Company – A Barrel to Fit Your Spirit. We’ll help customize your barrels with our wide range of options.
- Classic Whiskey Barrel
- Cooper’s Select Barrel
- Cooper’s Reserve Barrel
- Small Batch Barrels
- Finishing Products
Ready to Get Started on your Barrel Journey? Let’s Talk
Contact: Chad Spalding, ISC Account Manager
Phone: 270-692-4674
Email: Chad.Spalding@IndependentStaveCompany.com
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