Nov 14, 2024Engineering Neat: The Crossroads of Infrastructure & Whiskey Maturation

The West Virginia Great Barrel Company doesn’t make whiskey; it makes the barrels – the “infrastructure” that holds it while it is in the maturation process. There would be no whiskey without the barrels, and without our site development, utility, and roadway infrastructure, there would be no whiskey barrel plant!

We noticed several parallels between whiskey barrel manufacturing and civil engineering. Both combine science, creativity, and practical application to produce results that are functional and enjoyable! Let's explore the similarities.

E.L. Robinson’s West Virginia Great Barrel Company Infrastructure Project Highlights

The West Virginia Great Barrel Company Project included site development, industrial access road design, and both water and wastewater service extension.

Site Development: The site development portion involved grading and drainage plan preparation as well as building pad elevations, parking lot design and permit filing.

Industrial Access Road Design: The roadway team furnished all materials, labor, and equipment necessary for the construction of approximately 2,060 linear feet of roadway, including drainage, guardrail, signage and pavement markings.

Water & Wastewater: The water portion of the project extended water service to approximately 50 residential customers, the Greenbrier State Forest, a UPS Distribution Center and the WV Great Barrel Company Plant. Additionally, 1,500 linear feet of gravity sewer line extended service to the new plant.

The West Virginia Great Barrel Company Manufacturing Process Highlights

On the West Virginia Great Barrel Company website, the company says, “To build a better whiskey barrel with industry-leading leak rates and more controlled flavor development, we first had to build a better process.”

They go on to outline their process:

• Tight-grained Appalachian white oak

• Natural drying

• CNC stave jointing

• Advanced manufacturing

• Precision infrared toast

• Char

• Finishing

• Reliability

How Do Civil Engineering and Whiskey Barrel Manufacturing Relate?

We see several commonalities in our work. They build whiskey “infrastructure” in the form of the vessel that enables optimal maturation, and we build transportation and utility infrastructure that is a means to the end, providing vital access and resources to communities. They don’t “just” make barrels, and we don’t “just” design or build anything. Things that seem simple and are often overlooked can be among the most essential and complex parts of an ecosystem.

Here’s what we see in both fields:

• Planning & Process Optimization

• Innovation & Problem Solving

• Quality Materials & Regulatory Standards

• Environmental Considerations

• Collaboration & Interdisciplinary Work

These parallels highlight how both civil engineering and whiskey barrel manufacturing combine science, creativity, and practical application to produce results.

To learn more about our site development, roadway, utility, and other services, visit https://www.elrobinsonengineering.com/services To learn about the West Virginia Great Barrel Company, visit https://wvgbc.com/