For #ASMWAdvent2023 Day 3.
Copperworks crafted this release from a total of 13 casks. 4 casks were filled with their Five Malt recipe and nine casks were filled with their Baronesse Pale Malt distillate.
Per Copperworks’ website: “All the casks were new American Oak, char #2 from Canton Cooperage, with a mix of 24-month and 36-month seasoned staves. The Five Malt casks matured for three years and nine months while the Baronesse casks matured for three years.”
This bottle is a story of “try, try again” for me. I’ve tasted it 4 times without owning it and finally got around to reviewing it. I first tasted this when I was interviewing Jason Parker back in April, and went home with a bottle of the Salmon Safe Release 046 instead. Later tasted it at Copperworks when my parents visited in October, but I’m pretty convinced I was having an off-palate kind of day that day; nothing tasted right. My parents loved this, however, and bought a bottle which we shared at Thanksgiving.
I tasted this once more at the new Kenmore location today and finally wrote my notes.
Distillery: Copperworks
Bottler: Copperworks
Region/Style: American Single Malt Whiskey (Washington)
ABV: 50% | NCF Non-chillfiltered
Age: 3 years
Cask type: new American Oak, char #2 from Canton Cooperage
Price: $69.99 plus taxes in WA.
Color: Between 0.7 amber and 0.8 deep gold | NCA No Color Added
Nose: Floral. Marshmallow. Sweet dried fruits but not quite stone fruit… ah, it’s figs! Tangerine jam.
Palate: Warm. Demerara sugar. Sweet garden and green vegetation. Mint. Herbal, a little gin-like.
Finish: Medium-short. Mild. Mint and cloves. Wanted more here.
Conclusion: This expression has always felt a bit too “bourbon-y” to me. It’s not a great fit for my palate but after spending time with it, I totally get how my parents liked it enough to have me stash a bottle for them and then fly it out to them at Thanksgiving.
Price: $69.99 + tax.
Buy a bottle? 1/5 meh. Really, there’s just better for me from Copperworks for the same price.
Final Score: 79/100 – very good, a strong baseline pour, but rarely my favorite of a lineup.
(DemiTastes Review #84, ASMW #35.)
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Scoring Legend:
- 95-100: As good as it gets. Jaw-dropping, eye-widening, unforgettable whisky.
- 90-94: Sublime, a personal favorite in its category.
- 85-89: Excellent, a standout dram.
- 80-84: Quite good. Quality stuff.
- 75-79: Decent whisky worth tasting.
- 70-74: Meh. It’s definitely drinkable, but it can do better.
- 60-69: Not so good. I might not turn down a glass if I needed a drink.
- 50-59: Save it for mixing.
- 0-49: Blech.
Demi Tastes Whiskey 
