A balanced, high-rye MGP bourbon elevated by a restrained double oak finish that prioritizes harmony over excess.
About Copper & Cask
Copper & Cask is an independent bottler built around a simple but focused idea: seek out exceptional barrels, bottle them at full strength, and keep every release limited.
Launched in 2021, the brand set out to build an expansive library of aged whiskey, curating barrels not just for individual selection, but for thoughtful finishing, blending, and small batch releases. Rather than anchoring itself to a core product, Copper & Cask operates without a flagship, choosing instead to pursue single barrels, micro batches, and small batch expressions that highlight variation, rarity, and character.
That vision sharpened in 2022 with the addition of Barrel Master Stephen Corrigan, whose background spans over 15 years in distillation, aging, and blending. Corrigan’s experience, from early work in agriculture and wine to launching a craft distillery in Washington, D.C., helped establish Copper & Cask’s award-winning cask finishing and blending program. His approach emphasizes precision and balance, with a focus on enhancing, rather than masking, the underlying whiskey.
Sourcing plays a central role in the brand’s identity. While much of the whiskey originates from Indiana, Copper & Cask leans heavily into geographic aging variation, maturing barrels across climates like Kentucky, Texas, and Florida to influence flavor development. Additional stocks from Kentucky, Canada, and beyond further expand the blending palette, reinforcing a philosophy rooted in diversity of origin and environment.
All releases are bottled at cask strength, with an emphasis on transparency, barrel selection, and limited availability. The result is a portfolio that avoids uniformity in favor of exploration, each release offering a distinct snapshot of barrel, time, and place.
Copper & Cask operates under Latitude Beverage Company, a Boston-based wine and spirits group founded in 2007 by Kevin Mehra. Known for building high-quality brands through strategic sourcing rather than ownership of distilleries or vineyards, Latitude applies the same model here: focusing on access, value, and curation while allowing each brand, including Copper & Cask, to develop its own identity.
Within that framework, Copper & Cask stands as Latitude’s most enthusiast-driven label, centered on rarity, transparency, and the pursuit of distinctive whiskey without compromise.
Copper & Cask’s Small Batch Series 07 Double Oaked is a 7-year cask strength bourbon sourced from Ross & Squibb (MGP), finished in a mix of new, used, and STR barrels. Built on a blend of two high-rye mashbills, it leans into sweetness and spice while aiming for added depth rather than brute force.
Stats
- Age: 7 year
- Proof: 116.2 (58.1% ABV)
- Mashbill: Blend of 75% Corn │ 21% Rye │ 4% Malted Barley & 60% Corn │ 36% Rye │ 4% Malted Barley
- Origin: Ross & Squibb (MGP) — Lawrenceburg, Indiana. Additional aging likely elsewhere.
- Batch Size: 16 barrels
- Finish: Mix of new, used, and STR barrels
- Release: Limited release, small batch
- MSRP: $64.99 (Copper & Cask)
Tasting Notes
- Nose: Chocolate sauce and frosted flakes lead, backed by a gentle woodiness. There’s a soft layer of blackberry and strawberry jam pastry that adds a slightly indulgent, dessert-like character.
- Palate: Full-bodied and rich. Deep caramel anchors the profile while tobacco and baking spice build intensity. The sweetness feels intentional rather than heavy-handed.
- Finish: Medium to long with a steady carry of baking spice. Caramel and cinnamon roll icing round things out, with a subtle spearmint freshness and a faint pineapple note emerging on the exhale.
This is a well-executed double oaked bourbon that understands restraint. Where many double oaks lean too far into char, tannin, or sweetness, this one keeps things in check, using the secondary maturation to enhance rather than dominate.
The high-rye MGP backbone remains intact, with the finishing process adding rounded sweetness and subtle complexity. It doesn’t break new ground, but it doesn’t need to. It’s polished, balanced, and consistently enjoyable — a bottle that works just as well for enthusiasts as it does for a broader crowd (the damage my good friend, Greg, and I put on this bottle over a few day vacation is evidence enough of this).
Presentation
The more time spent with the bottle, the more the details stand out.
While the shape itself is standard, the label design leans busy in a way that feels intentional, borderline luxury with a subtle vintage flair in its vine-like, plaque-inspired elements.
Information is clearly presented, though slightly less refined than later batches.
Distinctiveness
While rooted in MGP’s recognizable profile, this stands above much of the crowded field.
There are no rough edges, no overly familiar “generic MGP oak” dominating the experience. The double oak adds depth without masking identity.
It’s not especially groundbreaking but it is notably better than most.
“Always Rare, Always Limited“
— Copper & Cask
Transparency
Copper & Cask is refreshingly open for a non-distiller producer. Sourcing from MGP is clearly stated, along with maturation details spanning Indiana, Florida, Rhode Island and beyond. Barrel counts are disclosed, and even the mashbill components are partially shared.
In a category where opacity is common, this level of detail builds trust.
Value
At its original $65 MSRP, and even at later increases, this feels underpriced for the quality and age.
The balance, drinkability, and cask strength presentation make it a strong to nearly unheard of value in today’s market.
Buy if:
- You enjoy balanced double oaked bourbons without heavy tannin
- High-rye MGP profiles are your wheelhouse
- You want a reliable, crowd-pleasing cask strength pour
Skip if:
- You’re looking for something highly experimental or unique
- You prefer aggressive oak or bold finishing influence
- Standard MGP profiles, even with a twist, don’t excite you
For those who prefer numbers, here’s the full score breakdown:
- Nose: 5.5 / 7
- Palate: 5.4 / 7
- Finish: 5.6 / 7
- Presentation: 5.5 / 7
- Distinctiveness: 5 / 7
- Transparency: 7 / 7
- Value: 6 / 7
Bourbon Bishop Rating: 5.71 / 7 – Divine
Top-shelf. Must-buy for fans of the style.
| Score | Descriptor | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 0–1 | Hell No | Drain pour. Seriously undrinkable. |
| 1.1–2 | Purgatory | Bad, but could be worse. Only in extreme cases. |
| 2.1–3 | Only Earthly | Just okay. Best used as a mixer. |
| 3.1–4 | Bliss | Passable sipper. Works well in cocktails. |
| 4.1–5 | Angelic | Good to great. High value for the price. |
| 5.1–6 | Divine | Top-shelf. Must-buy for fans of the style. |
| 6.1–7 | Holy Heaven | Out-of-this-world. A true unicorn. |
Disclosure: This bottle was provided to me free of charge for review. All opinions are my own.
Looking for more whiskey reviews? Browse my latest reviews here.
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