Copperworks Distilling Cask No. 7-2 American Single Malt Whiskey Review & Tasting Notes

 

Doing something new is fun. Even if the end result didn’t turn out as hoped, it is still exciting. Ideas happen when a distiller looks back at their initial release, and the gears in their head start moving.

 

In 2016, Copperworks Distilling Company of Seattle released its first, fully-matured American Single Malt Whiskey distilled from pale malt called Release 001, a blend of composed of several barrels. It was well-received; naturally, and the Copperworks team knew this cask had the potential to produce another great whiskey in a different style. 

That original cask (known as Cask 7) was part of Batch 001, was then refilled with its Five Malt recipe, and allowed to rest for nearly seven years. That barrel was then re-named Cask No. 7-2, with the “2” denoting it is aging whiskey a second time.

 

"Single casks are pretty straightforward (and tasty), and we number them in chronological order, meaning this was our seventh cask ever filled. We filled, emptied, and refilled it with a new distillate to make a new whiskey." – Jason Parker, President, Co-Founder, and Co-Owner of Copperworks Distilling Co.

 

No law exists on the books (yet) that defines American Single Malt Whiskey as having to age in new wood. As such, distillers can use any cooperage that comes to mind. And, according to Jason, they have other casks they’ve refilled and waiting to mature.

 

Part of the challenge with refilled casks is that a distiller must rely less on the flavors the wood might naturally impart, as in many cases, those have already been leached from the barrel. Instead, the whiskey takes on more flavors from the ingredients in the distillate. Flaws will become more apparent, whereas, with new ones, you can count on vanillas, caramels, and oak to absorb them.

 

Cask No. 7-2 is bottled at its barrel proof of 65.6% ABV (131.2°), with only 192 – 750ml bottles produced. They can be purchased from the distillery or its website for $89.99.

 

Copperworks Distilling Co. gave me a sample of Cask No. 7-2 in exchange for my no-strings-attached, honest review. So, let’s #DrinkCurious and discover how this experiment turned out, shall we?

 

Appearance: I sipped this single malt neat from my Glencairn glass. Inside, it had a brilliant tangerine coloring. A medium-thick rim held to the wall until releasing thick tears. Yet, even so, much of the rim remained.

 

Nose: I’ve smelled a lot of whiskeys and can’t recall a nose quite like Cask No. 7-2. A bouquet of ripe peaches exploded from the glass. But then, those peaches became stewed. I found honey, flowers, orange peel, and orange citrus. Underneath those were caramel and vanilla notes. When I pulled the air through my lips, I encountered lemon oil.  

 

Palate: The mouthfeel was oily and warm. Tangerines, apricots, and stewed peaches formed the front, while the middle consisted of leather, molasses, and lemon oil. The back tasted of black pepper, cinnamon-soaked toothpicks, and oak tannins.  

 

Finish: The warm mouthfeel turned spicy after I swallowed. The black pepper was prominent, only to be drowned out by the cinnamon spice. Caramel hid, almost like it didn’t want to be found but failed. Peach carried through, as did the leather and lemon oil. Overall, it was like a freight train. It kept building as it crossed your palate and throat.

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: I love the unusual, and Cask No. 7-2 fits the bill. Something is beyond appealing from the nose to the palate to the finish; it almost begs for another sip. I have enjoyed much of what I’ve tasted from Copperworks, and today’s pour is so out of character from their other releases. You’ll be stunned by what’s happening in the glass, your mouth, and your throat. Would I buy a Bottle? In a heartbeat! Cheers!  

 

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 do so responsibly.