Copperworks American Single Malt (Release No. 034)

This is quite thrilling. This is the first American single malt ever produced using Washington peat. Not this specific brand, but this exact bottling. Another distillery is planning one soon, but for now, this producer is the only one, and even then, this batch has practically disappeared. It's not heavily peated. I detect a slightly medicinal sharpness, yet also a delightful chocolate note alongside the typical fruitiness (cherry, tangerine, perhaps some orange), malt, yeast, and oiliness characteristic of this producer. It adds a very pleasant extra dimension. There's some vanilla with a dry, paper-like quality. Additionally, there's a subtle funkiness deep within, teetering on the edge between a pleasant savory note and an unpleasant/immature distillate character. I also get a touch of dry grassiness. I'm very fond of this aroma; it possesses remarkable complexity. Based on the aroma, my sense is that Washington peat is more grassy and smoky, but significantly less phenolic than Islay peat. Moving on to the taste. It's smooth, rich, full-bodied, viscous, and oily. I detect chocolate, cherry, tangerine, yeast, malted barley, mild spices (cinnamon and ginger), and papery vanilla. This is an incredibly indulgent and well-balanced spirit with some truly excellent complexity. It tastes considerably older than it is. Given how harmoniously everything blends, I would have assumed this was a much older bottling. There's a hint of smoke, but it's subtle for a peated spirit. With the yeast and papery notes, it reminds me of another spirit, but this one is more engaging, mature, and polished. Nutty. How did I overlook that? It's very nutty, integrating smoothly with the oiliness. Notes of pecan and almond come through. This peat is sweeter and less bitter. It has an unusual profile for a scotch, but if it were a scotch, I would place it around the 16-year mark. I mean, it does possess that American single malt character, which strongly suggests its age, but setting that aside. Regarding the rating, it's at least an 18. It could be a 20. I'll settle on a 19.

This is one of my most preferred Copperworks bottlings. I nearly passed on it as I typically avoid peated spirits. Experiencing it at their tasting room amazed me, leading me to buy a bottle. The peat smoke is rather mild. Consider drinking a more standard Copperworks bottling near a bonfire. The smoky aroma is primarily on the nose for me. The taste has orange peel and baking spices.

The peat aroma is discernible if you're actively seeking it; otherwise, I wouldn't have noticed. The peat flavor is far more subtle than what you'd find in an Islay, but the result is excellent balance. The flavor is dark and complex, quite enjoyable.

Aroma: forest-like Taste: toasted almonds End: charcoal, hickory I'm unable to sip this straight or with water. It's too potent/fiery for my preference. It performs admirably in an old fashioned.