Mike Evans – Lead Barrel Master, Evans Family Barrels
Mike Evans is the Lead Barrel Master and resident craftsman-in-chief at Evans Family Barrels, where wood, wine, and a whole lot of love come together to create something truly special. Equal parts artist, engineer, and storyteller, Mike brings decades of hands-on experience—and just the right amount of sawdust—to the family’s cooperage business.
Before diving headfirst into the world of charred oak and toasted staves, Mike’s career took to the skies—literally. As a private pilot and aerial photographer, he captured landscapes from above with the same precision and perspective he now applies to every barrel he builds. He also logged serious time in the tech world, solving problems, working on hardware, and keeping things running behind the scenes like the steady hum of a CNC machine (one of his favorite workshop toys to this day).
Mike’s always been a builder at heart. Whether he's fine-tuning his CNC machines, tweaking a jig, or dreaming up a new custom barrel design, he’s happiest when he's elbows-deep in a project. He believes in doing things the old-fashioned way—with care, craft, and a healthy dose of curiosity. If something breaks, Mike’s not just fixing it—he’s making it better.
But don’t let the tool belt and safety glasses fool you—Mike’s also a proud dad to three amazing kids and an even prouder grandpa to three rambunctious grandkids who keep him on his toes (and occasionally steal his tools). His family stretches coast to coast, a reminder that the barrels he builds today will hold the stories—and spirits—of tomorrow.
At the heart of it all, Mike’s passion is simple: build beautiful things that last. Whether it’s a perfectly charred bourbon barrel or a memory made around a fire pit, he pours his heart into every project, one stave at a time.
