Review: Copperworks Single Malt Cask 472

Bourbon and corn whiskey have a long history in Kentucky and Tennessee due to early westward expansion and the reality that corn was the grain at their disposal. Similarly, rye whiskey was king in the early northeastern United States because rye grew well in the region. Early styles of American whiskey were largely necessitated by local grain availability. It’s only been recently that whiskey distilled from barley has come onto the scene in America with any real scale. Washington is consistently one of the top five states for growing barley, so in keeping with historical precedent, the Pacific Northwest tends to gravitate toward the distillation of barley.

Copperworks Distilling makes its home in Seattle. One unique attribute of Copperworks is they don’t have a flagship whiskey offering. While each offering might have something in common with prior offerings, each expression owns some specification that separates it from others. There’s always something new at Copperworks that enthusiasts have not yet tried. Let’s take a dive into the newest differentiated dram from Seattle.

Copperworks American Single Malt Single Cask No. 472 is distilled from their signature five malt recipe, consisting of 75% pale malt and 25% caramel malt. The cask was was fully matured for 44 months in new American oak. We know what’s in the glass, now let’s talk about how it tastes.

The scent of sandalwood wafts from the glass, gentling mingling with light cinnamon. The initial spicy aroma is quite pleasing. After adjusting to the spice, caramel and creamy vanilla notes enter the equation. As the whiskey sits for a moment, memories of a steakhouse come to mind by way of hot dinner rolls glazed with melted butter. Giving the whiskey one last gentle nosing, there’s a subtle note of orange zest.

The palate opens with a burst of orange marmalade and molasses. The 120.8 proof is immediately recognized. The ethanol level is not problematic, but it’s impossible to be unaware of the alcohol content. Some whiskies drink well below their proof point; this is not one of them. After adjusting to the feel of the high proof, freshly roasted coffee beans balance out the sweetness of the orange marmalade and molasses. The palate rounds out with a subtle burnt caramel note. Single Cask No. 472 presents a nice balance of fruity, sweet, and tannic notes. The mouthfeel is rather thick, but also a bit hot.

The orange character from the nose and palate are also there on the finish, but there present more as Tang. If you’re not familiar with Tang, it’s a powdered orange drink developed by NASA in 1957. My grandmother was no astronaut, but she always served Tang at her house when I was a small child. The finish leans away from sweetness as earthy coffee beans are present. The tail end of the finish turns slightly floral, hanging around for a substantial amount of time as the 120.8 proof punch is still discernible.

I enjoy Copperworks and will continue to hunt their bottles. The profile of Cask No. 472 is something will appeal to many American whiskey enthusiasts. My favorite expressions from Copperworks have been those matured in used casks, but of the handful of expressions utilizing new American oak, this has been one of my favorites. If you’re open to whiskey that lets you know it’s definitely cask strength, you’ll enjoy this one.

120.8 proof.

A- / $90 / copperworksdistilling.com

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