We've Made it Our Mission

To craft world-class oak barrels and other cooperage products so our employees, customers and communities flourish.

A Growing Heritage

It's been over 100 years since our founding, and Independent Stave Company continues to evolve thanks to a commitment to quality and innovation, our dedicated associates, and a continual interest in collaborating with distillers and winemakers around the world.

    TW Boswell

    1912

    TW Boswell founded TW Boswell Stave Company, a stave mill supplying white oak staves for cooperage.

    Prohibition barrels

    1919

    Due to prohibition. TW shifted his attention to non-alcoholic cooperage, such as fruit and salted meat barrels.

    TW Boswell Stave Mills

    1920

    TW Boswell owned and brokered for 36 stave and saw mills in operation across the Midwestern and Southern states.

    Photo of JE Boswell

    1933

    Prohibition was repealed and J.E. Boswell entered into the family business - TW Boswell and Son - manufacturing bourbon and wine staves.

    First ISC Logo

    1936

    Company renamed Independent Stave Company to reflect the company's position as the premier stave mill facility not owned by a distillery, brewery or winery.

    Historical photo of cooperage in Lebanon, MO

    1950s

    J.E. founded the family’s first cooperage in Lebanon, Missouri.

    John Boswell

    1980s

    John Boswell became CEO of Independent Stave Company and greatly expanded production, establishing multiple cooperages.

    Oak Chips and Staves

    1990

    Oak Solutions Group enters the oak alternative industry producing premium oak products and providing expert advice to the wine and spirits industries.

    Aerial photo of French Stave Mill

    1990s

    To ensure a high-quality supply of French oak, John established the family’s first international subsidiary, a stave mill in the Vosges region of northeastern France – Merrain International

    Mulch Chips

    1999

    Missouri Mulch is created to manufacture and distribute decorative mulch, wood chips, and compost with the byproducts from stave and barrel production.

    Boswell family photo in 2000

    2000s

    The Boswell's developed barrel production on four continents to meet the growing demand of oak worldwide.

    Tonnellerie Quintessence exterior

    2001

    A creative French cooperage blending savoir-faire and contemporary expertise, Tonnellerie Quintessence is built in the heart of Bordeaux wine country.

    Heinrich Cooperage exterior

    2004

    Heinrich Cooperage is purchased amongst the rolling hills and vineyards of Australia’s famous Barossa Valley. They produce premium quality American oak barrels.

    Tonnellerie Quintessence exterior in Chile

    2005

    A Tonnellerie Quintessence cooperage is built in Santiago, Chile to provide onsite service to customers in South America.

    Aerial photo Morehead Mill

    2010s

    Independent Stave Company continues to grow building new stave mills in Morehead and Benton, Kentucky.

    Tonnellerie Tremeaux exterior

    2016

    Tonnellerie du Monde, subsidiary of Independent Stave Company, partners with an artisan Burgundian cooperage, Tonnellerie Tremeaux.

    Brad Boswell portrait

    2017

    Brad Boswell is named CEO. He continues to build a company with a commitment to be trustworthy, respectful, and fair with our employees and customers.

    Kentucky Bourbon Barrel

    August 2017

    Independent Stave Company invests in Kentucky Bourbon Barrel, known for high-quality used bourbon and whiskey barrels.

    Timberland

    May 2019

    Independent Stave Company begins purchasing timber, starting with 3,000 acres in Tennessee

    Kentucky Bourbon Barrel in Lebanon, KY

    November 2019

    Kentucky Bourbon Barrel South opens in Lebanon, Kentucky.

    Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ireland

    2021

    Kentucky Bourbon Barrel – Ireland opens in Newbridge, Co. Kildare.

    Commonwealth Cooperage Exterior

    2022

    Commonwealth Cooperage opens in Morehead, Kentucky. Stevenson and Jackson mills are acquired.

    Maison Moussie logo

    March 2023

    Independent Stave Company adds luxury French barrel brand Maison Moussie to portfolio of wine barrel brands.

    Batesville mill photo

    August 2023

    Batesville Mill in Arkansas opens and Independent Stave Company acquires Clifton Mill.

    Innerstave logo

    November 2023

    Independent Stave Company acquires oak alternatives brand Innerstave.
    Alabama Cooperage exterior

    May 2024

    Jack Daniel Cooperage in Trinity, AL is acquired from Brown-Forman. It is renamed Alabama Cooperage.

    Independent Stave Company Fourth Generation Owners & Siblings

    Joe Boswell, Amie Boswell-Kennett, and Brad Boswell

    Boswell Family in 2023