A 9-year MGP bourbon finished in ZAK Cooperage Wave Stave barrels, wrapped in one of the most collectible presentations of the year and priced like it forgot to account for inflation.
Stats
- Age: 9 year
- Proof: 117 (58.5% ABV)
- Mashbill: 75% Corn │ 21% Rye │ 4% Malted Barley
- Origin: Ross & Squibb (MGP) — Lawrenceburg, Indiana
- Finish: ZAK Cooperage Wave Stave Char 1 Barrels with four toast levels
- Release: Limited release (3000 bottles), blended, barrel proof
- MSRP: $74.99 (Copper & Cask) – SOLD OUT
- Charitable Contribution: $1 from every bottle sold supports the Arcadia Center Veteran Farmer Program
Tasting Notes
- Nose: You immediately know this is something beyond standard MGP territory. Rich aromas of maple syrup, vanilla custard, marshmallow, milk chocolate, and cherry syrup lead the charge while subtle notes of fresh oak and nuttiness provide structure underneath. The profile feels like an elevated mature MGP pick with hints of double oak influence peeking through rather than dominating.
- Palate: The palate is where this whiskey truly announces itself. An enormous wave of deep maple syrup sweetness arrives immediately, genuinely resembling drinking maple syrup straight from the bottle, and it absolutely works. Notes of crème brûlée and lightly drying oak keep the sweetness from becoming overwhelming while allowing the maple note to remain the star of the show.
- Finish: The maple carries effortlessly into the finish where it intertwines with a substantial layer of lingering chai spice, creating an experience that feels warming rather than hot. Additional notes of cherry chocolate, strawberry shortcake, whipped cream, and cream cheese frosting emerge over time, resulting in a medium-long finish that continues rewarding attention.
There are plenty of commemorative whiskey releases that ask you to pay extra for the story.
Copper & Cask’s Wave That Flag somehow manages to deliver the story, the presentation, and the whiskey while still feeling underpriced.
Created to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary, this limited release begins with a blend of 9-year low rye MGP bourbon (21% rye) before undergoing secondary maturation in ZAK Cooperage Wave Stave Char 1 barrels utilizing four separate toast levels. The goal was simple: lean even harder into the influence of new American oak and create something unapologetically American.
Mission accomplished.
At times this drinks like an exceptional mature MGP bourbon. At others, the Wave Stave treatment pushes it into territory that feels noticeably different from your standard double oak experience, especially once the palate arrives.
Presentation
Copper & Cask already produces some of the best labels in independent bottling, but with Wave That Flag they decided subtlety was overrated and went full America.
The familiar premium presentation receives patriotic upgrades including red, white, and blue accents, E Pluribus Unum, and custom Wave That Flag artwork that wraps around the bottle beautifully.
Then there’s the back label.
Honestly, who does back labels better than Copper & Cask? More importantly, who consistently gives you a reason to actually turn the bottle around and spend time looking at one?
Their back labels have quietly become one of the brand’s signatures, and this may be their best effort yet.
The included matching art print only reinforces the feeling that this isn’t simply a bottle of whiskey.
It feels like a genuine collector’s edition release.
Distinctiveness
At first glance, the nose suggests a really good, slightly elevated 9-year MGP bourbon with some additional chocolate and cherry from the secondary maturation.
The palate, however, changes the conversation entirely.
That deep maple sweetness paired with the rising wave of chai barrel spice creates a profile that feels distinct from most traditional double oaked bourbons. Rather than leaning into heavy char, dark oak, and tannin the way many Kelvin Cooperage Char #4 double oak finishes do, the Wave Stave barrels create something sweeter, brighter, and more spice-driven.
Does it reinvent the wheel?
No.
But it is an excellent example of a really enjoyable and somewhat unique double oaked bourbon at an exceptionally approachable price point.
“It may also be the best value I’ve ever encountered in a true collector’s release.”
Transparency
Copper & Cask remains one of the easiest independent bottlers to praise when it comes to transparency.
The company clearly identifies the whiskey’s MGP origin, includes the age statement, discloses the mashbill, details the Wave Stave finishing process, and provides the proof and release size.
Consumers know exactly what they’re buying.
You simply can’t ask for much more than that.
Value
At $74.99, this bottle almost feels mispriced.
A quality 9-year bourbon at that price is already competitive in today’s market. Add in the Wave Stave secondary maturation, the custom 250th anniversary presentation, the included matching art print, and the fact that the whiskey itself is legitimately very good, and the value proposition becomes difficult to argue with.
This is one of the best values in whiskey at face value.
It may also be the best value I’ve ever encountered in a true collector’s release.
Unfortunately, the market seems to agree.
These sold out quickly.
Buy if:
- You enjoy maple-forward bourbon profiles with substantial sweetness.
- You appreciate double oaked bourbons that don’t rely solely on oak and tannin.
- You value collector presentation pieces that actually deliver on the liquid inside.
- You prioritize transparency and age statements from independent bottlers.
Skip if:
- You dislike dessert-forward bourbon profiles.
- You prefer aggressively oaky traditional double oak expressions.
- You’re looking for a whiskey that reinvents the category.
- You only chase bottles that are readily available on shelves.
Verdict
Wave That Flag succeeds because it understands exactly what it wants to be.
This isn’t an experimental bourbon trying to redefine American whiskey. Instead, it’s a beautifully executed celebration bottle built around a mature MGP foundation, a genuinely interesting finishing process, and some of the strongest presentation work in the business.
The nose starts the conversation.
The palate steals the show.
And the finish keeps you around long enough to appreciate why Copper & Cask has become one of the most respected names in independent bottling.
Most commemorative bottles ask consumers to pay for the occasion.
Wave That Flag feels like it celebrates the occasion while giving you a deal on the whiskey.
For those who prefer numbers, here’s the full score breakdown:
- Nose: 5.5 / 7
- Palate: 5.75 / 7
- Finish: 6 / 7
- Presentation: 6.5 / 7
- Distinctiveness: 5.5 / 7
- Transparency: 7 / 7
- Value: 7 / 7
Bourbon Bishop Rating: 6.18 / 7 – Holy Heaven
Out-of-this-world. A true unicorn.
| 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 to Good sipper. Works well in cocktails. |
| 4.1–5 | Angelic | Good to great. Often 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.
About Copper & Cask
Copper & Cask is built around a focused premise: find exceptional barrels, bottle them at full strength, and keep every release limited.
Founded in 2021, the brand set out to create an evolving library of aged whiskey—pulling from diverse sources and aging environments to shape unique profiles. Rather than relying on a core lineup, Copper & Cask intentionally operates without a flagship, choosing instead to release single barrels, micro batches, and small batch expressions that emphasize variation and discovery.
That approach sharpened with the addition of Barrel Master Stephen Corrigan in 2022. With over 15 years of experience across distillation, aging, and blending, Corrigan has helped build a refined cask finishing and blending program; one that prioritizes balance and enhancement over excess.
While much of the whiskey is sourced from Indiana, Copper & Cask leans into geographic aging diversity, maturing barrels across climates like Kentucky, Texas, Florida, and Rhode Island. The result is a portfolio shaped not just by mashbill or age, but by environment.
All releases are cask strength, limited, and intentionally varied, designed to showcase what careful selection and blending can achieve within the independent bottler space.
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