Rebirth
By Andrea Louise Thomas Photos Yanni
W
ho would think that an inanimate object could have a life of its own? Take the humble barrel for instance. The oak it’s made from begins its life as a living organism, but once cut, it is considered a lifeless ‘thing’. Well, barrels are a bit different. Once their oak is staved and hooped and sealed by a cooper, the barrel becomes a living vessel. That vessel may hold wine, whiskey, beer, bourbon or rum, but each inhabitant of the oak lays down a layer of history and that barrel takes on a life of its own.
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Carl Smith in his Langwarrin showroom.