Review: Copper and Cask X Bourbon 10 Years Old and Batch 17 Cigar Blend Bourbon

Great whiskey depends on more than grain, water, time, and wood. Just as important is the judgment and expertise of the person who brings those elements together. It is an often-overlooked part of whiskey-making, yet it can be the difference between a collection of good barrels and a finished whiskey that stands apart.

Copper & Cask sources its whiskey and makes it its own through the blending expertise of Barrel Master Stephen Corrigan. His work requires an understanding of how individual barrels complement one another, which flavors deserve greater prominence, and when the various components have come together as intended. Blending is not simply a matter of combining whiskeys. It is about recognizing what each barrel brings to the table and determining how its contribution can serve the finished product.

That philosophy offers an interesting perspective on two very different Copper & Cask releases. Batch 17 of the Small Batch Series Cigar Blend Bourbon brings together four finishing casks: Armagnac, Port, Cognac, and Sherry. Batch X-01, meanwhile, is a 10-year-old bourbon with an entirely different story to tell. Each release presents Corrigan with its own set of blending decisions, providing an opportunity to examine two approaches to whiskey-making and the results they yield.

Let’s take a closer look at both 2026 releases and see what Corrigan has put together.

Copper & Cask X Bourbon 10 Years Old Review

Batch X-01 is a particularly impressive example of what can be accomplished with well-aged MGP bourbon and an experienced blender at the helm. Comprised of 45 barrels distilled in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, this release brings together two bourbon mashbills, with every barrel aged for at least 10 years and 3 months. The oldest barrels date back to July 2014, having spent 12 years and 1 month in oak.

The barrels initially matured in Kentucky and Indiana before spending their final 2 to 6 months at Copper & Cask’s facility in Providence, Rhode Island. Approximately 60% of the blend consists of bourbon distilled from a mashbill of 60% corn, 36% rye, and 4% malted barley. The remaining 40% comes from a mashbill of 75% corn, 21% rye, and 4% malted barley.

Before the final assembly, the barrels were blended in micro batches, some of which were allowed to marry for as long as three months. The finished blend then spent approximately one month marrying before bottling.

The nose opens with cocoa butter, bringing a mildly nutty, chocolate-like quality that brushes up against pecan pie filling. Interestingly, the nuttiness isn’t particularly identifiable as pecan or any other specific variety. Vanilla pudding skin joins the mix before the bouquet takes a rather pronounced turn toward mulled, unfiltered apple cider. The apple cider is the primary attraction here, with the fruit itself taking precedence over the accompanying mulling spices. Given some time in the glass, the cocoa butter and unfiltered apple cider become the leading aromas, working exceptionally well together. It’s an outstanding opening and one that makes spending time with the glass particularly enjoyable.

The palate starts with butterscotch and gingerbread, providing an great combination of sweetness and spice. Chocolate frosting and maraschino cherries arrive across the mid-palate, supported by a medium-thick viscosity. Cherry remains prominent through the finish, where the spice component transitions toward cherry cola, with the syrupy cherry quality taking precedence. Pear and bread-like animal cracker notes follow, before a late appearance from strawberry hard candy brings the tasting experience to a close.

From the first nosing to the final notes of the finish, Batch X-01 delivers an excellent bourbon experience. Oak, fruit, and spice are represented in pleasing proportions, and the progression from cocoa butter and apple cider to cherry cola and strawberry candy gives the whiskey plenty to offer. It’s the sort of bourbon that should appeal equally to seasoned enthusiasts and those who simply enjoy a well-made pour without spending time dissecting every component.

Perhaps the most impressive part of this release, however, is its price.

Historically, MGP bourbon was often valued at approximately $10 per year of age. That informal pricing benchmark eventually went out the window as the bourbon market became increasingly inflated, with bottles routinely commanding considerably more. Batch X-01 offers something of a refreshing departure from that trend. Here is a high-quality bourbon aged between 10 and 12 years, priced well below that traditional $10-per-year benchmark.

It’s an excellent whiskey at a very fair price, and one that tastes considerably more expensive than its retail tag suggests. For anyone looking to add a well-aged MGP bourbon to their collection without paying an inflated premium, Batch X-01 is an especially attractive purchase. 116.4 proof. A / $70

Copper & Cask Cigar Batch 17 Cigar Blend Bourbon 9 Years Old Review

Batch 17 is a blend of 33 barrels distilled by MGP in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, with all barrels having aged for at least 9 years prior to finishing. Approximately 80% of the blend consists of bourbon distilled from a mashbill of 75% corn, 21% rye, and 4% malted barley. The remaining 20% comes from a mashbill of 60% corn, 36% rye, and 4% malted barley.

Before finishing, the youngest barrel had been filled in June 2017 and aged for 8 years and 4 months. The oldest was filled in October 2016 and had reached exactly 9 years of age.

The blending process began with micro batches of 4 to 6 barrels. These smaller groups were assembled prior to cask finishing, with each micro batch adhering to a single mashbill. From there, Barrel Master Stephen Corrigan selected bourbon matured in various finishing casks for inclusion in the final blend.

Oloroso Sherry and 20-year-old Armagnac account for approximately 40% each, making them the primary finishing components. Tawny Port and 25-year-old Cognac each contribute approximately 10%. The final blend was allowed to marry for roughly two months before being bottled in September 2026, although some of the smaller components had up to an additional two months of marrying time before the final assembly.

The finishing casks make their impact known immediately on the nose. Luxardo cherries jump out of the glass, accompanied by a potent muscovado sweetness. That initial concentration of sweetness gradually gives way to dark chocolate, which introduces a slightly bitter counterpoint. Arriving later, burnt orange peel adds a touch of citrus zest to the bouquet. The combination makes for an especially interesting wintertime pour, with the darker, sweeter aromas providing plenty of substance while the orange peel offers a zesty lift above the sweetness.

The palate opens with Rolos candy and dried figs. Black cherry soda takes over through the mid-palate, bringing a fruity sweetness that is kept in check by accompanying black pepper. The mouthfeel is notably dense, but the whiskey never crosses into syrupy territory.

The finish continues that progression, introducing espresso and orange zest to provide some contrast against the sweeter elements. Prunes and sweet cinnamon eventually bring the tasting experience to its conclusion, leaving the final portion of the pour with a decidedly fruit-forward profile.

Stephen Corrigan has put together an exemplary release for the cigar blend category. Among the cigar blends I’ve tasted in 2026, particularly those incorporating several varieties of finishing casks, Batch 17 is arguably the best I’ve encountered.

That praise comes with an important qualification. I generally don’t gravitate toward cigar blend bourbons featuring numerous finishing casks. Too often, I find these releases overwhelming, with excessive sweetness and a syrupy quality that distracts from the bourbon itself. As a result, cigar blends rarely rank highly when I’m evaluating the bourbon category as a whole. Even when one performs well within its own category, that doesn’t necessarily translate into the sort of whiskey I want to reach for on a regular basis.

Yet Stephen Corrigan has managed to change my opinion on more than one occasion. Between Copper & Cask and Wheel Horse, he has assembled several releases that I’ve genuinely loved. More importantly, these are bottles I enjoy as bourbon, rather than simply considering them good examples of cigar blends. That’s a meaningful distinction in my evaluation of this category.

For consumers who actively seek out cigar blend bourbons, Batch 17 is a 2026 release that should be on their shopping list. Corrigan has demonstrated considerable skill in bringing together four very different finishing casks without allowing their contributions to overwhelm the underlying bourbon. That’s no small accomplishment, and it’s precisely why this release earns such high marks from me. 118.4 proof. A- / $80

The post Review: Copper and Cask X Bourbon 10 Years Old and Batch 17 Cigar Blend Bourbon appeared first on Drinkhacker: The Insider’s Guide to Good Drinking.