Review of Coppercraft’s 9-Year Straight Bourbon Whiskey

 

Back in 2018, when I was still writing for Bourbon & Banter, I reviewed three whiskeys from Coppercraft Distillery. They ran the gamut of my rating spectrum: one took a Bottle, another a Bar, and the last, a Bust. The Bar and the Bust were both Bourbons, the Bottle was a Rye.

 

Eight years is a long time, and blenders can (and often do) change things up between innovation and a desire to improve, and one of my friends provided me with a sample of Coppercraft’s Straight Bourbon Whiskey – 9 Years to review. For the record, this was not one of the Bourbons I had already reviewed.

 

But, who (or what) is Coppercraft Distillery? In 2009, Walter Catton was struck by an SUV while training for an Ironman competition. He spent 40 days in the hospital. When he was released, he and his wife, Kim, were determined to do something different with their lives, and that change came in 2012 in Holland, Michigan, when they founded their artisan distillery. Their tasting room opened a year later, and the Cattens were serving up whiskeys, rum, vodka, gin, and applejack.

 

“[Our] mission is to produce only the finest craft whiskeys as a tribute to the American Craftsman.

To this end, we distill, source, and blend choice ingredients from around the nation. Our whiskeys are heavily aged with strong oaky flavors like tobacco, cinnamon, toasted nuts, and toffee. Our gin and vodka are clear-cut, bright, and fresh.

Utilizing the cognac technique, each of our products explore the unique effects of different distillation methods, barrels, and aging environments. We use all of that distinction to produce intentionally crafted premium spirits.” – Coppercraft Distillery

 

Whoa… what on Earth is the cognac technique? While not legally defined, it is a method of blending and aging a spirit. At Coppercraft, once a barrel is matured, it is slowly proofed in the barrel over several weeks, then dumped into tanks for blending. That entire process takes about three months.

 

Today’s Bourbon is a blend of two MGP distillates: 75% corn, 21% rye, 4% malted barley, and 60% corn, 36% rye, 4% malted barley. The youngest component whiskey is 9 years old, and it is packaged at 45.3% ABV (90.6°) in a handsome bottle.

 

Let’s #DrinkCurious and taste how this turned out!

 

• Whiskey Type: Straight Bourbon
• Distiller: MGP
• Age: 9 years
• Mashbill: A blend of 75% corn, 21% rye, 4% malted barley, and 60% corn, 36% rye, 4% malted barley (ratio undisclosed)
• Cooperage: New, 53-gallon #3 char, heavily toasted barrels
• Alcohol Content: 45.3% ABV (90.6°)
• Price per 750mL: $37.99

 

Appearance: I used a Glencairn glass to explore this Bourbon neat. Inside, the whiskey had a golden amber hue and produced a medium rim with widely spaced, slower tears.

 

Nose: After allowing Coppercraft about 15 minutes to breathe, I brought the glass beneath my nostrils and began sniffing. I found the nose to be nut-forward, with notes of blanched almonds, pecans, and hazelnuts. Behind those were mild spearmint, caramel, Bartlett pears, and oak. When I drew the air through my lips, it tasted of muted cinnamon.  

 

Palate: On my first sip, I encountered a thin, oily texture and a herbal palate shock. With the second, I was able to pick out brown sugar, cinnamon, and almonds on the front – it was basically spiced nuts. The middle offered leather, Granny Smith apples, and raisins. The back featured dried tobacco leaf, toasted oak, and mint.

 

Finish: Toasted oak, caramel, mint, leather, and an herbal component remained in my mouth. It was toasty, dry, and leathery, lasting only 46 seconds, which is on the shorter end. I thought it would have grown in intensity, but there simply wasn’t enough time.

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: I remembered not enjoying Coppercraft’s Bourbons the last time I sampled them. The 9-year-old beats them hands down. While Coppercraft Straight Bourbon Whiskey – 9 Years isn’t the most memorable pour, it is highly affordable, and if you relish minty Bourbons, it’ll be right up your alley. For me, it earns my Bar rating. 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 to do so responsibly.