KENTUCKY
We love the old mill buildings and barns that bequeath their lumber to us when they are deconstructed. But it's exciting when our salvaged lumber comes from a new, interesting source. One of our more recent lots of lumber traveled north to us from a Wild Turkey rickhouse. Also known as a rack house, barrel house, or warehouse, the rickhouse is a tall, rectangular, straightforward structure used to store and age whiskey, usually bourbon. Inside, a simple but ingenious rack system made of relatively slender pieces of lumber allows wooden casks to be stacked vertically, usually three high. This internal structure enables distillers to save space without stressing the metal stays (which could compromise lower barrels) and allows for critical air circulation around the casks.
Wild Turkey, an iconic American brand of bourbon, is based in Kentucky. Its origin dates back to 1869 when the Ripy brothers opened their distillery on Wild Turkey Hill in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky. The brand was officially named in 1940. Wild Turkey bourbon is aged in white oak barrels for at least five years, often six or eight. During this maturation process, the wood species of the barrels and the rickhouse contribute to the bourbon's flavor.
The lumber we salvaged from one of the Wild Turkey rickhouses comes in a mix of hardwoods, including red oak, white oak, and maple. These pieces were re-milled with a bright surface and straight-line ripped to a uniform thickness. They would look fantastic as an architectural accent, like a vertical divider slat wall. They would also be stunning if crafted into a top for an island, counter, desk, or table. It's a complete package: history, function, and beautiful potential.
Dimensions:
Thickness: 2-5/8″
Width: 2-5/8″.
Lengths: 6′6″ to 14′ (most are 12′ or longer)
Quantity Available: Thousands of feet available for pickup or shipping.
Wild Turkey maintains an informative website at www.wildturkeybourbon.com where you can read more about the history of the makers of this bourbon and see additional images of their distillery.
