Today, we share the third
and final post in our three-part series featuring products from Coppercraft
Distillery. Each post features tasting notes from three different reviewers
- none of whom were in communication with each other while performing the
reviews. The result is a series of tasting notes and observations that are
unique to each reviewer and help to illustrate the difference in how even
experienced whiskey drinkers interpret and rate a whiskey. We hope you find
this multi-review series interesting and informative. And, of course, if you've
tried any of the whiskeys reviewed, please chime in the comments with your own
tasting notes and opinions.
BOTTLE DETAILS
DISTILLER:
Coppercraft Distillery
MASH BILL: 95%
Rye |
5% Barley
AGE: NAS,
but at least two years.
YEAR: 2018
PROOF: 90 (45%
ABV)
MSRP: $42.95
JARROD'S NOTES
NOSE: Cherry
Wood | Rye Spice | Pine Needles | Wintergreen Gum
TASTE: Pine
Bark | Rye Bread | Wood Tannins | Leather
FINISH: Started
with a strong, unsweetened mint; progressing to a dry woodiness with a tasty
mild rye flavor. Some of that earthy leather became present with a dab of
sweetness.
SHARE WITH: Those
who love a high rye mash bill should enjoy sipping this one neat. Spicy rye
cocktail fans, too. If you prefer a fair
mix of corn and a sweeter profile to your ryes, this might not be ideal for
you.
WORTH THE PRICE: $42.95
seems more than reasonable for an artisanal, 90 proof, handcrafted straight
rye.
BOTTLE, BAR, OR BUST: I’d
feel comfortable springing for a bottle of this one. Personally, I prefer ryes
to bourbons, and therefore more likely to jump right into a Bottle
purchase than I would be for the Coppercraft bourbons. If you’re unsure,
definitely try a pour at a Bar first… next time you’re in Michigan.
OVERALL: This
was my favorite of the three Coppercraft whiskies we reviewed. The nose was
quite inviting and there should be no doubt you have a rye whiskey in your
glass. I got the impression from that initial nosing that the first sip would
be sweeter than it actually was, but when you consider a 95% rye mash bill,
with the remaining ingredient being barley, as opposed to corn, the fact that
it wasn’t should come as no surprise. That’s not a knock on the palate, but
more of a nod to the nose.
I ended up drinking my
entire poured sample before I realized I never stopped to add a few drops of
water… it just didn’t need it. But, knowing that it could potentially add a
little sweetness, I wanted to give it a try. However, living in Florida, with the
high heat and humidity, if I ever add water to a bourbon or rye on my own
accord, it would be the hard, cubed, cold variety. Off to the freezer I go…
What a great idea that was!
(*pats myself on the back) I don’t know that it made it all that much sweeter
initially, but it cranked up the spice and really let the vanillas come
through, which I guess actually did add to the sweetness overall, creating something
of a chilled, peppery custard. Hey, it’s
still summertime here and that hit the spot! (at least it was when I wrote this
review)
MATT'S NOTES
NOSE:
Peppercorn | Rye Spice | Bubble gum (quite possible the first time I have ever
written this in a review)
TASTE: Rye
Spice | Ripe Fruit | Honey Butter
FINISH: A
viscous coating on the tongue that opens to soft floral notes with just the
right amount of spice. A few minutes after the last sip a tobacco note
appeared.
SHARE WITH: People
who are looking for an approachable rye drink that doesn’t come with an
overpowering spice kick. This is a solid pour neat; but, due to its lower
alcohol content should probably stay away from too much water, or mixers, as to
not lose its flavorful notes.
JEFF’S NOTES
NOSE: Rye
Spice |
Citrus | Floral
| Stewed Fruit
TASTE:
Spice |
Fruitcake | Chocolate
| Stewed Fruit
FINISH: Long
and peppery.
SHARE WITH: Fans of
younger Rye with big, bold flavors.
WORTH THE PRICE: Yes
BOTTLE, BAR, OR BUST: This
whiskey is priced relatively and better than several younger, more expensive
Ryes. It won’t blow your socks off, but is worth grabbing a Bottle.
OVERALL:
Coppercraft has been distilling since 2012. The distillery points out that this
is an “award-winning rye.” Honestly,
whiskey awards mean very little to me. There are far too many “participation
trophies” handed out that distillers and producers use for marketing purposes -
and with that, I’ve probably just nixed any chances of my being invited to sit
on an awards committee.
I went into this Rye with
lower expectations, mainly because it was the third whiskey I tried in the
series. I found the first two to be average at best. But, the entire
#DrinkCurious philosophy calls for sipping whiskeys as they’re presented and
putting any others out of my mind.
In the glass, the rye was a
bronze amber. It left a thin rim on my Glencairn and created fast legs to drop
back into the pool.
Bringing the rim of the
glass to my chin, there was a definite pairing of spice and floral aromas. This
was interesting because usually, with a Rye, one dominates over the other.
Still, in this case, they worked in tandem. It was just heavy rye spice when I
raised the rim to my lips. When I inhaled through my mouth, I picked up
fruitcake and stewed fruit. Lifting the
rim to just under my nostrils, I picked up citrus with that lingering rye
spice.
The mouthfeel was very thin
and oily. At the front of my palate, I just shoved a spicy fruitcake in my
mouth. Then, it turned chocolatey, shortly followed by stewed fruit on the
back. The finish was peppery, and it just continued on and on.
Overall, I enjoyed the
Coppercraft Straight Rye. At $42.95 for a 750ml, this is at the lower end of
craft whiskey pricing. While the nose was a bit overwhelming, the palate and
the bet of the three were pleasurable. Coppercraft suggests this is a limited-release
whiskey, and as such, if I saw it on the shelf, I’d pick up a bottle to add to
my library.
My Simple, Easy-to-Understand
Rating System
- Bottle = Buy It
- Bar = Try It
- Bust = Leave It
Whiskeyfellow encourages
you to enjoy your whiskey as you see fit but begs you to do so responsibly.
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