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Whiskey Review: Copperworks American Single Malt Release No. 042

We review Copperworks Release 042, a single malt from Copperworks Distillery in Seattle featuring Washington-grown barley smoked with Washington peat.

OVERALL RATING

8
$76.49
  • Scott Bernard Nelson is a writer, actor, and whiskey reviewer.
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Copperworks Release 042

Tasting Notes

About:

Appearance:
Deep topaz, almost orange.
Nose:
If you read “peated” on the label and expect something approaching Islay Scotch, you’ll be surprised by this whiskey. It carries none of the heavy smoke and peat scents of those iconic whiskies. This is spicy and reminiscent of citrus; think orange peel, cantaloupe, and over-ripe pear, with the barest hint of a smoke wisp.
Palate:
As it was on the nose, the flavor is nothing like heavily peated Scotch. It’s light, fruity and spicy, if anything. For me, it brought to mind prunes, fig newtons, roasted almonds, cinnamon-sugar French toast, and salted caramel.
Finish:
Comments:
My fellow Whiskey Wash reviewer Jerry Jenae Sampson referred to Copperworks American Single Malt Release No. 041 as “radiating confidence.” That struck me as a strange turn of phrase when I read it, but I think I understand what she meant after sampling Release No. 042. We drink a lot of startup whiskies in this role, and you can often taste when a distiller is still working out the kinks in his/her process and flavor profile. Copperworks exhibits none of that. Nutt and Parker exhibit a practiced hand and distinct vision that is impressive.rnrnBottom line: This is a good whiskey, made all the more compelling by the fact that it comes with an interesting story to tell your friends while you pour it – a Seattle single malt made with barley and peat from the state of Washington.

Editor’s Note: This whiskey was either bought as a sample by The Whiskey Wash or provided to us as a review sample by the party behind it. Per our editorial policies, this in no way influenced the outcome of this review.

Scott Bernard Nelson

Scott Bernard Nelson is a writer, actor, and whiskey reviewer based in Portland, Oregon. While currently working in higher education, he previously dedicated 22 years to journalism, covering impactful events such as 9/11 in Manhattan, crossing into Iraq with U.S. Marines, and contributing to The Boston Globe's Pulitzer Prize-winning coverage of abuse in the Catholic Church, which inspired the film "Spotlight." Since 2019, Scott has shared his insights as a whiskey reviewer for The Whiskey Wash.  

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