December 2024 introduced the monumental information that the Federal Tobacco Tax and Commerce Bureau (TTB) lastly adopted official requirements of id for American Single Malt whiskey. The combat for official recognition for the class was a protracted course of, and Seattle’s Copperworks Distilling was on the frontline from the beginning as a constitution member of the American Single Malt Whiskey Fee (ASMWC). December 2024 introduced extra large information for Copperworks as they launched two totally different Particular Launch Single Cask Single Malts: Whidbey’s Port Cask and Colour Cask.
Copperworks has a convention of releasing a pantheon of distinctive expressions that differentiate every from their counterparts. Nevertheless, Copperworks reserves the Particular Launch Single Cask collection for the particularly noteworthy. Are the 2 latest releases definitely worth the hype? Let’s discover out!
Copperworks Particular Launch Single Cask Whidbey’s Port Cask American Single Malt – M.W. Whidbey is a subsidiary of Chateau St. Michelle which produces a Port-style wine in Prosser and Grandview, Washington. Whidbey’s Port has remained common in Washington since its preliminary launch in 1984. For this launch, Copperworks utilized single malt distilled from its 5 Malt recipe aged for just below 7 years in its personal refill American Single Malt whiskey casks. The well-aged single malt engaged in additional maturation for a further 7 months in a cask that beforehand nurtured Whidbey’s Port.
The nostril unfolds with an sudden profile as blood orange leads the cost. Beneath the citrus, dry pencil shavings are balanced by a whiff of mothballs. Because the glass mingles with air, blueberry pie filling meets Danish butter cookies to finish the satisfying bouquet. On the palate, orange zest debuts, adopted by root beer and floor ginger, and sweetness emerges as Nilla Wafers develop. The mouthfeel presents with a medium viscosity. Orange zest stays current on the end, however shortly fades into ripe pear. Cool wintergreen is balanced by Mexican chocolate for an enduring impression.
I totally recognize Copperworks Distilling and arguably maintain it as my favourite American Single Malt distillery. Whidbey’s Port Cask comes with glorious age for American Single Malt and a profile that may attraction to most who take pleasure in single malt matured in Port casks. It’s an excellent whiskey, but nonetheless not amongst my favourite expressions from the Seattle distillery. 100 proof. B+ / $90 (700 ml)
Copperworks Particular Launch Single Cask Colour Cask American Single Malt – Whereas the Whidbey’s Port expression options secondary maturation, this providing is totally matured for just below 5 years in a 200-year-old coloration cask sourced from Bodegas Argueso. Spanish sherry producers as soon as created a particularly darkish sherry to regulate the colour of Oloroso when it appeared too gentle to fulfill their requirements. Over time, the sherry business’s tradition has shifted, with much less emphasis positioned on the wine’s coloration and larger concentrate on the authenticity of the manufacturing course of and the standard of the ultimate product. Casks from this antiquated follow had been generally known as coloration casks. Upon buying such a particular cask, Copperworks felt obligated to fill it with whiskey of equal reverence by the use of a Queen’s Run distillation. Traditionally, “Queen’s Run” is a time period related to the rum business and includes a distillation run solely from the heads and tails of earlier distillations. Copperworks collects the heads and tails from earlier distillation runs, whereas the hearts go on to create different whiskey expressions. The heads and tails are usually smaller parts of the distillation course of and take time to gather sufficient to be redistilled right into a Queen’s Share whiskey. Colour Cask is fascinating as a result of each the uncommon cask and distillation course of.
Heading into this overview, I used to be particularly excited as I visited Copperworks in April 2024 and was graciously allowed to style this whiskey when it was nonetheless a number of months away from bottling. The darkish sherry from the colour cask clearly transfers to the whiskey. Whereas coloration itself could be deceiving, I’ve by no means witnessed one other American Single Malt with such stunning mahogany coloration.
The nostril opens with an intriguing trace of overheated plastic electrical wires, but oddly not in an disagreeable means. Richness follows by the use of burnt brown sugar and plump dried raisins. Because the dram opens up, candy coconut and milk chocolate mix to create the phantasm of a Mounds sweet bar. Permitting extra time for oxygen to work together, the unmistakable aroma of uncooked sugar cookie dough develops. The nostril is daring and complicated, main the mouth to salivate in anticipation. Strawberry jam takes heart stage on the palate, accentuated by oatmeal raisin cookies with walnuts earlier than cocoa nibs floor. The mouthfeel is syrupy and borders on cloying. The end is equally advanced, with bittersweet chocolate chips, persimmon fruit, and a contact of honey. Hanging on on the finish, you get an sudden trace of lime zest coupled with toasted walnuts.
Colour Cask is a ravishing expertise that’s not like the rest I’ve tried from Copperworks. It’s daring and complicated from nostril to complete. The syrupy mouthfeel might be a deterrent for some, however it was welcomed by me. For those who’re searching for a high-quality American Single Malt whiskey, this one is definitely worth the worth and the hunt. 100 proof. A / $150 (700ml)
Copperworks Particular Launch Single Cask Colour Cask American Single Malt
$150
