Combining traditional craftsmanship with sustainable sourcing and modern engineering.

Oakwood Vats

Oakwood Vats, a specialised division of Oakwood Cooperage, blends centuries-old craftsmanship with cutting-edge techniques to design, build, and maintain high-end wooden vessels for the whisky industry and beyond. Whether you're a distillery, a research facility, or a heritage brand, our bespoke vats are built to last — with sustainability and excellence at their core.

A large wooden fermentation vat.

Design & manufacture

We design and build bespoke wooden vats using premium Douglas Fir, Siberian Larch, and French Oak—sources sustainably and selected for their durability and fermentation benefits. Each vat is precision-crafted to your exact specifications, flat-packed, and assembled on-site. Whether for new builds or replacements, we ensure optimal fit and performance.

  • Wooden Washbacks: Made from premium Douglas Fir and Siberian Larch.

  • Spirit Receiver Vats: Crafted from sustainably sourced French oak.

  • Wormtubs & Condensers: Bespoke builds using Accoya and Siberian Larch.

A large wooden barrel labeled "Intermediate Spirit Receiver" with a capacity of 5270 liters, located indoors with pipes and equipment visible in the background.

Maintenance & repair

From emergency fixes to long-term care, we offer expert maintenance and repair for all wooden vats. We handle everything from knot plugging and joint sealing to full stave replacements. Whether restoring ageing vessels or maintaining peak performance, our skilled team ensures your vats remain safe, efficient, and production-ready—on-site or off.

Three large wooden vats

On-site inspection & reporting

We provide thorough on-site inspections and detailed condition reports for all wooden vats. Our annual surveys assess every component, offering clear findings and expert recommendations. From structural integrity to heritage care, we help ensure long-term performance, safety, and compliance for distilleries, food, pharma and government environments.

Stacked wooden casks stored outdoors against a clear blue sky.

Sustainable recycling

Sustainability is central to everything we do. We repurpose old timber through dedicated recycling programmes. All our wood is FSC-certified, and we offer eco-conscious alternatives like Accoya. Our zero-waste philosophy ensures that every stage of the vat lifecycle supports environmental stewardship without compromising quality or performance.

Contact Oakwood Vats

Oakwood Vats is a division of Oakwood Cooperage. Use the form below to contact the vats team.