About ZAK Cooperage

3rd Generation Family Cooperage

With over 75 consecutive years of making barrels and staves, our family carries forward lifetimes of expertise and commitment to quality.

Bert Zimlich - Co-Founder & Chairman

Bert Zimlich brings over 45 years of industry expertise from his distinguished career at Brown-Forman. He served as VP-Director of Engineering, President of Bluegrass Cooperage for 20 years, and President of Jack Daniel’s Distillery. Bert designed and oversaw the layout, equipment design, and purchasing for ZAK Cooperage’s onsite stave mill and cooperage. His extensive industry knowledge spanning over 75 years and dedication to quality craftsmanship drive our commitment to excellence.

Bruce Zimlich - Co-Founder & President

Bruce Zimlich brings a diverse and accomplished background to the company. Bruce studied Chemistry at Indiana University and received his MBA from Vanderbilt University. His career began at Bluegrass Cooperage in the early 80s, followed by an internship at Brown-Forman’s Jack Daniel’s Distillery. He then transitioned to international marketing in the tobacco industry before returning to his roots in the cooperage industry. In 1990, Bruce joined forces with his father, Bert, to establish ZAK Cooperage. With over 40 years of industry experience, Bruce’s extensive knowledge and leadership continue to guide our commitment to quality and innovation.

Zach Zimlich - Director of Operations

Zach Zimlich has been steeped in the art and tradition of whiskey barrel craftsmanship from an early age. As part of the third generation at ZAK Cooperage—a family-owned business founded by his grandfather and father—Zach grew up surrounded by the rich heritage of Kentucky’s cooperage industry. His lifelong connection to barrel-making, paired with a mechanical engineering degree from the University of Arkansas, uniquely positions him at the intersection of tradition and innovation.

After years of hands-on experience working at ZAK during summer and winter breaks, Zach officially joined the team full-time in 2016, bringing both technical expertise and a deep passion for preserving the legacy of barrel-making. Today, as Director of Operations, he combines a respect for traditional craftsmanship with a forward-thinking approach. Zach leads the way in designing advanced cooperage equipment and implementing streamlined production processes, ensuring ZAK Cooperage remains a pioneer in the whiskey barrel industry.

Under Zach’s leadership, ZAK Cooperage continues to push boundaries, blending time-honored techniques with cutting-edge innovation to craft premium barrels that enhance the aging process of fine spirits. His vision and dedication are central to the company’s mission: to elevate the craft of cooperage while honoring its storied past.

Historic Athertonville Location

ZAK Cooperage is located just off the banks of Knob Creek, right down the road from Abraham Lincoln’s childhood home in Athertonville, Kentucky. Our cooperage sits on the historic site of the old JM Atherton Distillery, which began operations in 1876 under DSP-KY-20 and was most recently operated as one of the four Seagrams distilleries. We acquired the site at auction from National Distillers, who had shut down the operation in the 1980s as they divested from whiskey due to the rising demand for clear spirits like gin and vodka.

Stave Mill

Since acquiring the former Athertonville distillery in 1990, we have invested in and built equipment to operate our stave mill and cooperage. Our strategic location in Athertonville, Kentucky, allows us to source premium white oak logs from approximately a 100-mile radius, ensuring a consistent supply of high-quality staves for our barrels. This rich history and prime location underpin our commitment to excellence and tradition in the cooperage industry.

Cooperage

At ZAK Cooperage, we take pride in our comprehensive approach to barrel manufacturing. Each barrel begins with the processing of individual components, including locally sourced white oak staves, heading, and steel hoops, all crafted with precision to meet our high standards for quality.

In this facility, we apply our expertise to transform the chemistry of the oak. Using our in-house designed equipment, we offer a range of custom toasting, charring, and air seasoning options to create world class bourbon barrels. Our tailored processes ensure that every barrel we produce surpasses industry standards, preserving and enhancing the integrity of the spirits they hold.