About the Producer
Copper and Kings of Louisville, KY is one of the most prominent craft brandy producers in the US. They go after a very bourbony profile with aging in ex-bourbon barrels and new charred oak and they are even on the KY Bourbon Trail.
Copper and Kings uses exclusively pot distillation and in the past was a mix of their own distillate and sourced brandy. It’s unclear if they source anymore but this is an older bottling so it’s likely that most or all of that brandy is sourced.
The Craftwerks line is a line of beer barrel finished brandies that were put out a couple of years ago. While they don’t put these out anymore you can still find a few bottles on the shelf if you look hard enough. This one was finished in barrels from Jack’s Abby, a prominent craft distillery in MA that focuses on lagers.
Details
- Pot distilled.
- Initial maturation in ex-bourbon barrels.
- Finished in Jack’s Abby Baby Maker lager wine barrels.
- 51.5% abv.
Nose
A complex mix of aromas. Granny Smith apples, a crisp maltiness and a noticeable hoppiness. Traces of chocolate and freshly cut grass. Beer influence is there but not overpowering. A very good nose.
Palate
Here the beer influence is very noticeable, almost dominant. Has the same crisp maltiness and hops from the nose but it’s more in the forefront here. A good amount of spearmint and cocoa powder. Traces of fruitiness; cherry and apricot. Complex but a little weird. Full bodied with a prickly, slightly harsh texture.
Finish
Long with maltiness and hoppy bitterness.
Rating: 5
Overall
It’s a unique and complex brandy but weird and won’t be to everyone’s liking; you have to approach it with an open and adventurous mind. For me, I enjoy it but I wish the beer influence was more restrained and balanced. A lager is also a weird choice for a finishing barrel; I imagine that a stout barrel would be less weird and would meld better with the brandy flavors.
1 | Disgusting | So bad I poured it out.
2 | Poor | I wouldn’t consume by choice.
3 | Bad | Multiple flaws.
4 | Sub-par | Not bad, but many things I’d rather have.
5 | Good | Good
6 | Very Good | A cut above.
7 | Great | Well above average
8 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional.
9 | Incredible | An all time favorite
10 | Perfect | Perfect
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