Copperworks American Single Malt Whiskey – Release No. 035

We are proud to launch a fantastic whisky into Australia! The Copperworks American Single Malt Whiskey – Release No. 035

• A whiskey, that although spelt with an ‘e’ is an authentic Single Malt made from 100% malted barley and twice-distilled in Scottish copper pot stills.
• Limited to only 1521 individually numbered bottles
• The only whiskey in the world that uses the famous Baronesse barley
• A 750ml bottle (yes, an extra 50ml of goodness!)
• Only available in Australia through The Single Malt Whisky Club!

From the home of Boeing, Amazon, Microsoft and the birthplace of grunge – The beautiful city of Seattle, we are super excited to bring this amazing Single Malt to Australia, thus giving our members the opportunity to pioneer yet another fantastic ‘new world’ single malt. This time an American Single Malt!

Release 035 was created by combining four casks of whiskey distilled from Baronesse Barley with two casks of whiskey distilled from their standard pale malt recipe. All six casks were aged for at least 39 months in charred, new American Oak, the result is an amazingly smooth, richly flavoured single malt.

Now we mostly associate American whiskey with Bourbon and Rye whiskey, but Copperworks Distilling Co., from Seattle, Washington are proud to offer an authentic Single Malt made in the ‘traditional’ manner – twice distilled in copper pot stills, non-chill filtered and no colouring (but still spelt with an ‘e’).

In fact, these aren’t just any old stills, but traditional copper pot stills made in Scotland by none other than Forsyths – widely considered Scotland’s best producer of distillation equipment. Forsyths have created stills for distilleries such as Glenlivet, Penderyn, Wolfburn, Ailsa Bay, Kavalan and many more. Chances are, if you’ve drammed a few single malt whiskies, you’ve probably sampled the wares of a Forsyth Still.

Now one of the things that sets this whisky apart is that the barley used is Baronesse barley. Baronesse barley is originally from Germany where is has a pedigree as a great malting barley in the beer industry. In America, however, it has seen relatively little use. Bought to the USA in the 1980’s, Baronesse was originally marketed to farmers as a feed barley. Due to its low yield and tall straw, it even began to fall out of favour with the feed producers who switched to newer varieties.

All this time, Washington producer Josephs Grainery has persisted with Baronesse because, despite all its commercial drawbacks, it produces fantastic barley that malts very well. When the owner’s son-in-law (an amateur brewer) discovered how good it was when used in his beer – it was ‘all she wrote’. In conjunction with a local artisanal flour mill – malted Baronesse barley was soon made available to local craft brewers and the like.

“We love the fact that Baronesse is now being used for it’s intended purpose and people get to enjoy the great malt flavor only Baronesse can provide. We say “only” because we believe that it is the unique combination of our soils and this very special barley that provides the unmistakable terroir of the Palouse.
This is a real life rags to riches fairy tale for our little Baronesse. It is our intention that she live happily ever after.”
– Josephs Grainery

The Copperworks is the only whisky in the world being made from this fantastic barley, and we are proud to offer it for the first time in Australia. Oh – almost forgot. 750ml bottles! Need I say more? I guess I show my age when I get misty-eyed and reminiscent about 750ml bottles. Sigh…those were the days!

Nose: Rich warm toffee over fruity marmalade notes

Palate: Mmm…sweet sweet syrupy mouthfeel. More of that sweet citrus – but more mandarin-y now. Sweet peanut brittle at the back of it all

Finish: Warm spicy buzz with more toffee. Also, a nutty quality – roast almonds perhaps?

Copperworks American Single Malt Whiskey is created from 100% malted barley and twice-distilled in Scottish copper pot stills.

Release 035 was created by combining four casks of whiskey distilled from Baronesse Barley with two casks of whiskey distilled from our standard pale malt recipe. All six casks were aged for at least 39 months in charred, new American Oak.

Baronesse Barley is grown by Joseph’s Grainery which is about 275 miles southeast of Seattle in a stunning agricultural area known as “the Palouse.” Baronesse has an interesting history, starting in Germany and making its way to Joseph’s Grainery where owner Bill Myers discovered what delicious beer this barley produced. That flavour is unique because of the barley variety and the area it’s grown in. 

Tasting Notes: A fresh, grassy, and lemon pound cake aroma, with hints of pineapple. Flavours include silky browned butter and more fresh grain. The finish has long notes of sassafras, mint, and fruit leather.