Copper & Kings American Craft Brandy

Sampled neat from a Flaviar taster. Before I get to the review, I certainly do not recommend Flaviar. Nothing about my experience with them would convince me to join their program. The nose is sweet with some grapey notes and a solid apple profile. This smells like a wonderful jelly to put on toast in the morning. On the palate, this is soft, sweet, and undemanding. I'm not sure if this would be good in a cocktail. I can imagine the lemon juice totally overwhelming it in a Sidecar. There's no way for me to be certain, as the "sampler" would be a pretty disappointing neat pour at most restaurants. Anyway, it's inoffensive. At the current price, which seems to be around $35, I'm not sure I wouldn't choose something like a VSOP cognac. That would mean a step down to 80 proof, but perhaps a bit more interesting complexity on the palate? I rate it on a scale of 1 to 5. A competent mass-market product should fall on a bell curve with the average clustered between 2 and 3. This is a competent, average brandy.

An elegant, Solera-aged Brandy from Copper & Kings Distillery in Louisville, Kentucky; using pot-distilled Brandy from various producers crafted with a mix of grapes including: Muscat, Chenin Blanc & French Colombard & undergoes a "solera" process: 90% is aged in former Kentucky Bourbon barrels, while 10% matures in new medium-char American oak casks for at least 2 years. It presents an aromatic beginning with notes of caramel, honey, cherry wood, honeysuckle, hints of melon & a floral bouquet; while a rich & oily body adds notes of honey, toasted oak, tobacco & spices; leading to a balanced & velvety conclusion. August 2020 / January 2021

Notes of oak with a pleasant mouthfeel and smooth finish. The bourbon barrel aging is noticeable. This is a nice brandy. It holds up well in a Wisconsin Old Fashioned. I'd love to see "straight" on the label. Who knows what else is in here? Similar to Christian Brothers Sacred Bond Brandy, which is also aged in bourbon barrels and has a four-year age statement. There is no age statement on this.

This brandy resembles bourbon. So many aspects suggest bourbon; if you weren't familiar with brandy, you might be mistaken. I've heard that bourbon was originally created as an inexpensive substitute for brandy. I could be mistaken. This isn't bad. It's pleasant served with a large ice cube. It's also sippable neat. I appreciate their efforts and the clear thought and work put into this product.

Sweet aroma, with notes of vanilla and spice. Quite a bit of alcohol burn and dryness from the oak tannins. It almost reminds me of a bourbon, which is essentially their goal. I prefer this mixed rather than neat, but it's drinkable on its own, though I think it benefits from a little cold water or an ice cube to help mellow it out a bit.

Tasted again on ice, which this individual enjoys. The color is diminished, but the aroma is of a vibrant grape celebration. The flavors separate into fruit on one side and oak on the other. It might make a fantastic Sidecar.