Spanish Sherry casks were shipped overseas to the Seattle waterfront distillery of Copperworks, and the single malt makers got to work.
One of their latest whiskey releases is Copperworks American Single Malt Whiskey Release 048, and co-founder Jason Parker said this expression was made from the same whiskey used in Release 047, along with the addition of another Copperworks whiskey made from pale malt and matured in a Manzanilla Sherry cask for five and a half years.
That Sherry cask-finished whiskey makes up 7.5% of the overall blend.
“I had the pleasure of hand-picking casks during a visit to Spain several years ago,” Parker said, in the prepared statement. “While many Sherry casks used in whiskey production nowadays are new casks seasoned with Sherry, these were used for Sherry production for several decades in Spain before making their way across the ocean to Copperworks.”
He noted that Manzanilla is a type of Sherry, which in itself is a fortified wine from the province of Andalusia in southern Spain. It can only be produced and matured around the seaside town of Sanlúcar de Barrameda.
The Sherry is matured for at least two years under a layer of indigenous yeast. Manzanilla is the Spanish word for chamomile, an aroma often found in this type of Sherry along with dry, saline notes thanks to its coastal origins, Parker added.
“The flavor from Sherry casks is remarkable. The casks can impart an array of flavors on whiskey, and many European whiskeys have been ‘sherried,'” said Copperworks’ Co-Owner Jeff Kanof. “While our production methods differ from traditional distilleries, we’ve enjoyed exploring how Sherry flavors incorporate with our American single malt whiskey.”
The distiller’s tasting notes show that on the nose, Release 048 has aromas of bread pudding, browned butter, finger lime, chocolate, stone fruit, and suede. On the palate are fruit leather, pie crust, raspberry, vanilla pipe tobacco, and red wine. The finish has lingering hints of dried fruit, pink peppercorn, and green tea mochi.
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Copperworks American Single Malt Whiskey Release 048 saw a production run of 1,310 bottles produced, 750ml in size. It clocks in at 50% ABV and has a suggested retail price of $69.99. You can find it at the Copperworks Seattle Distillery & Tasting Room and in their online store.
For more information or to find a bottle, check out www.copperworksdistilling.com.
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