Copperworks 3 Year, Cask 442 for First Cut/Craft Malt Week 2023
Whisky: Copperworks 3 Year, Cask 442 for First Cut/Craft Malt Week 2023
Country/Region: United States/Washington
ABV: 59.1%
Cask: New American Oak
Age: 3 Years (Distilled 2018, Bottled 2022)
Nose: Berries, herbs, and wood; buttery pastries and coffee, espresso, wood and canvas, maple with mellow nuttiness; somewhere between an art store and coffee shop
Palate: Medium-bodied, tannic structure, ample wood, berries and coffee cake, baking spices, lacquered wood, coffee and butter pastries, mellow caramel and maple with time.
Finish: Long and drying with coffee shop pastries, wood, and fruit.
Score: 7+ (85)
Mental Image: Opening Shift Pastry Duty
Narrative & Notes: Blackberries and holly led a parade of blueberries, lemons, and buttery pastries through an early morning coffee shop. The smell of coffee cake, espresso, and freshly ground dark roasted beans filled the air and awoke the appetite to the delight of a maple pecan scone. Aromatic woods and canvas with a touch of pepper brought back memories of the family art store and the aisles of frames and canvas. Medium-bodied and tannic; berries and spiced coffee cake arrived first with nutmeg, cinnamon, and walnut oil. Lacquered wood took hold as the fruits faded and before more coffee and buttery pastries developed. Coffee shop notions were in full swing with a touch of caramel, maple, and candied nuts. The finish was long and slightly trying with lacquered wood, dry pastries, and subtle fruit.
Wow. Wood-forward, yes, but this was hardly the sort of oak brutalism I occasionally complain about. The malt, which in this instance was Genie barley, balanced beautifully against the new oak to create subtle, interconnected layers of flavor. It was something akin to the first gust of warm air that escapes a coffee shop on a cool morning as you crack open the door. As a long-time barista, those aromas and flavors trigger a profoundly bittersweet nostalgia.
Overall, an absolute delight showcasing the rich depth of flavors Copperworks produces.
Image Credit: Copperworks
