shortage in American oak supply is
putting a significant squeeze on many
of the nation's coopers. "The supply
is tight," said Jason Stout of Cooperages
1912 in Napa. "Not everybody is going to get
through this and be able to meet all of their
demands."
The reasons for the oak shortage are com-
plex, but most agree that it starts with the
BY SEAN P. SULLIVAN
booming whiskey industry. "Whiskey is on
a really good roll right now," Stout said "You
have a lot of craft distillers and regional dis-
tillers that are getting into the mix. You've
got this trend with bourbon especially com-
ing back into the cocktail culture. So they are
all needing barrels."
Danny Brager, senior vice president of
Nielsen's Alcoholic Beverages division, said
Competition
for
barrels
from
whiskey
industry
leads
to
cost
increases
for
wineries
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