Coopers’ Craft Bourbon was born in 2016 when Brown-Forman added its first new bourbon brand in 20 years. The last was Woodford Reserve and that worked out well. Just a few years after their birth, Coopers’ Craft expanded their line adding the Barrel Reserve 100 Proof. That’s a promising start for a young brand helmed by an experienced distillery like Brown-Forman.
Since 1945, Brown-Forman is the only major American whiskey distillery that also owns its own Cooperage. Coopers’ Craft pays homage to the hard-working coopers who make aging whiskey possible. After all, the barrel and wood are a critical part of the whiskey’s flavor development. I love that these bourbons are experimental in a way. The Coopers’ Craft goes through a beech and birch charcoal filter finishing process, and the Barrel Reserve uses a specially crafted chiseled and charred American White Oak barrel that deepens the whiskey’s contact with the wood.
I don’t know what’s in the cards for these whiskeys, but I’d love to see what something around 10 years old might look like with either of these techniques.
Related:
- Old Forester Birthday Bourbon Reviewed
- Old Forester Whiskey Row Series Reviewed
- Old Forester Single Barrel Barrel Strength Reviewed
- Old Forester Master Taster Singel Barrel Reviewed
Start shopping for bourbon clothing and accessories for your journey. The Bard’s Shop has custom tees and hoodies, books, barrels, and more.
Coopers’ Craft Bourbon Review
| Coopers' Craft Bourbon | Details |
|---|---|
| In the Bottle | 82.2 Proof |
| ABV | 41.1% |
| Mashbill | 75% corn 21% rye 4% malted barley |
| Distilled and Aged | Louisville, KY |
| Bottled | Brown-Forman |
| Age | NAS (Aged 4-6 years) |
| Style | Beech and Birch Charcoal Filter Finishing Process |
| Size | 750 mL |
| Suggested MSRP | $29 |
| Pros | Refreshing and Crisp Palate |
| Cons | Lacks Complexity |
| Availability | Nationwide |
| Rating | Silver 88 out of 100 Points |
| Inventory | Solid Summertime Drinker |
According to Coopers’ Craft,
Coopers’ Craft Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey is aged in a traditional American White Oak barrel. After aging, the bourbon is removed from the barrels and taken through our Beech and Birch charcoal-filter finishing process creating a smooth and flavorful bourbon bottled at 82.2 proof.
Cooper’s Craft has great viscosity and creamy, thick legs. The color in my Glencairn whiskey glass is amber.
Nose – 86 out of 100 Points
Cooper Craft has a delicate caramel overtone, supported by apples, pears, and just a hint of savory cinnamon and oak.
Taste – 92 out of 100 Points
This is a refreshing bourbon. It’s creamy vanilla, peach, and pear yogurt with a bright burst of tart apple. The back of the palate offers just subtle orange and oak notes.
Finish – 91 out of 100 Points
The finish is pear and tart apple and rounding out of gentle oak and just a peep of white pepper.
Verdict – Silver 88 out of 100 Points
I’ve seen this around but this is my first stab at it, and I’m delightfully surprised. I enjoy fruits notes in bourbon but this was something else entirely. It was bright, crisp, and subtle but balanced. I will be grabbing another bottle or two to keep in the bunker.
Coopers’ Craft Barrel Reserve Review
| Coopers’ Craft Barrel Reserve Bourbon | Details |
|---|---|
| In the Bottle | 100 Proof |
| ABV | 50% |
| Mashbill | 75% corn 21% rye 4% malted barley |
| Distilled and Aged | Louisville, KY |
| Bottled | Brown-Forman |
| Age | NAS |
| Style | Chiseled and Charred American White Oak Barrel |
| Size | 750 mL |
| Suggested MSRP | $33 |
| Pros | Coming Soon |
| Cons | Coming Soon |
| Availability | Nationwide |
| Rating | Coming Soon |
| Inventory | Coming Soon |
According to Coopers’ Craft,
Coopers’ Craft Barrel Reserve is aged in a unique chiseled and charred American White Oak barrel that deepens the whiskey’s wood exposure, creating a robust and complex bourbon bottled at 100 proof.
Start shopping for bourbon clothing and accessories for your journey. The Bard’s Shop has custom tees and hoodies, books, barrels, and more.
Written by Matty Sims
Buy Bourbon Clothing
Popular Posts
Bourbon Release Calendar [2021]
Our bourbon release calendar covers the annual cadence of major limited releases as well as new labels approved by the TTB — making bourbon hunting easy again. You may be asking, "What bourbon is releasing this week?" Well, new bourbon release dates are not an exact science. Not all bourbon...
The 24 Best Bourbons Under $100 Ranked [2021]
The over $50 and under $100 bourbon whiskey category is where it gets interesting. There are some all-time great options available in this corner and many can be easily found. Some of my top choices include Booker’s bourbon and Four Roses Single Barrel Barrel Proof (SBBP). Booker’s batches...
Every Smoke Wagon Bourbon Reviewed [2021]
Smoke Wagon Bourbon was founded by Aaron Chepenik and Jonathan Hensleigh in 2012 as part of Nevada H&C Distilling Co. They source their bourbon from Midwest Grain Products of Indiana (MGPI) using MGPI's 36% high rye bourbon mashbill. Chepenik was convinced you can develop a brand flavor...
Every Weller Bourbon Reviewed [2021]
You're here because you've been asking, "Which Weller bourbon is the best?" We've got you covered with reviews of every Weller plus a lot more. The first Weller who distilled whiskey was Daniel Weller, grandfather of William LaRue Weller. Daniel was a pioneer distillery in the 18th century in...
Booker’s Bourbon Batches | List of Booker’s Batches
Booker's bourbon batches are a barrel strength bourbon made by the Jim Beam distillery. It is uncut and unfiltered. It's generally aged 6 to 8 years with a proof upwards of 121. This is Booker Noe's bourbon, the famous master distiller of Jim Beam in the 80s. The brand was started by Booker Noe,...
0 Comments