A 10-year-plus, 45-barrel MGP blend brings together deep vanilla custard, ripe raspberries, clove spice, and an almost unbelievable $70 price tag.
Stats
- Type: Straight Bourbon
- Age: min 10 year 3 months (up to 12 year)
- Proof: 116.4 (58.2% ABV)
- Mashbills: 60% Corn │ 36% Rye │ 4% Malted Barley & 75% Corn │ 21% Rye │ 4% Malted Barley
- Origin: Sempreon (MGP) — Lawrenceburg, Indiana
- Additional Aging: Copper & Cask via Latitude Beverage Co. — Rumford, Rhode Island
- Finish: None
- Blend Size: 45 barrels
- Release: Limited release, small batch
- MSRP: $69.99 / 750 mL ($74.99 via Copper & Cask SOLD OUT)
Tasting Notes
- Nose: Creamy vanilla custard leads the way, followed by freshly picked raspberries, waffle cone, and Werther’s caramel. There’s a little proof-related tingle, but remarkably little ethanol presence for a whiskey with some characteristics reminiscent of American light whiskey.
- Palate: The first sip is an immediate wow moment. A robust, clingy mouthfeel carries butterscotch and pronounced clove spice, with a slightly drying quality that keeps the sweetness from becoming overwhelming.
- Finish: Clove makes an immediate impression before giving way to deep, almost dank vanilla custard, toffee, and a touch of mocha. Sweet mint and cinnamon linger over moderate heat, with a long, satisfying finish that keeps inviting another sip.
Copper & Cask has built a reputation for delivering thoughtfully selected, well-aged whiskey without asking consumers to pay a premium simply for the name on the bottle. With X-01, Stephen Corrigan and the team return with a 45-barrel blend of MGP bourbon, bringing together both low-rye and high-rye mashbills with additional aging across multiple regions.
At just under $70, a 10-12-year bourbon blend has plenty of potential to turn heads. But the real story here is what happens in the glass: a deep, savory profile built around rich vanilla, caramelized sweetness, baking spice, and some wonderfully expressive red fruit.
Presentation
Somehow, Copper & Cask has managed to take an already premium-looking presentation and elevate it another notch. The X is bold, dominant, and unmistakable, while the familiar eagle remains present above it, smaller but still recognizable. Even the tax strip and bottle topper carry the X branding through to the smallest details.
I do miss some of the incredible artwork featured on the 250th anniversary releases and earlier small batches, but that’s a relatively minor complaint. This is still a seriously good-looking bottle that feels right at home among the premium offerings on the shelf.
Distinctiveness
There are some genuinely interesting characteristics here that help X-01 stand apart. The ripe red fruit, pronounced clove, and particularly rich vanilla custard bring together elements I love about older MGP bourbon and even some American light whiskey profiles.
That last comparison is especially interesting. There’s a depth of vanilla and an almost savory richness here that reminds me of well-aged American light whiskey, but without the ethanol-forward character that can sometimes accompany those pours. It doesn’t completely escape the familiar older MGP profile, nor does it need to. The quality of the blend and the way these flavors come together are what make it distinctive.
“Copper & Cask continues to be one of, if not the, best-value NDPs in the game.”
Transparency
Copper & Cask continues to set a high bar for transparency among non-distilling producers. Between the age, source, proof, mashbill information, additional aging details, and even the 45-barrel blend size, there’s very little left for consumers to wonder about.
This is exactly the kind of disclosure I want to see from an NDP. No unnecessary mystery, no vague storytelling in place of information, just a clear picture of what’s in the bottle.
Value
Let’s get this out of the way: $69.99 (or even $74.99 according to the site) for this whiskey is borderline ridiculous… in the best possible way.
A 10-year-plus bourbon blend is already a compelling proposition at this price. Add the quality of the whiskey, the depth of flavor, the thoughtful blending, and the level of transparency, and it becomes even harder to argue against.
Sure, $70 isn’t exactly what most people would call an inexpensive everyday bourbon. But value isn’t simply about finding the lowest price on the shelf. It’s about what you’re getting for your money, and X-01 delivers exceptionally well on that front.
Copper & Cask continues to be one of, if not the, best-value NDPs in the game. This release is another strong argument for that reputation.
Buy if:
- You enjoy older MGP bourbon and its deeper, more developed flavor profiles.
- You gravitate toward clove, baking spice, and savory vanilla.
- You appreciate a rich, clingy mouthfeel and a long, lingering finish.
- You want a well-aged, thoughtfully blended bourbon with exceptional value around $70.
Skip if:
- You prefer lower-rye, softer, less-spicy bourbon profiles.
- Pronounced clove and baking spice aren’t your thing.
- You gravitate toward brighter, fruit-forward bourbons rather than deep, dark, savory sweetness.
- You’re looking for an inexpensive, uncomplicated daily sipper rather than a more substantial pour.
Verdict
Holy crap, Stephen Corrigan has done it again.
Copper & Cask X-01 is exactly the kind of release that reminds me why I’ve continued to pay attention to this brand. The blend brings together some of my favorite characteristics of older MGP bourbon and American light whiskey, particularly that incredible depth of vanilla, butterscotch, and dark sweetness. The raspberries on the nose are a fantastic touch, while the clove and rye spice carry the experience through the palate and finish. It’s deep, savory, wonderfully rich, and remarkably easy to keep coming back to.
The spice profile is certainly pronounced, and I can see it being a sticking point for someone who prefers a softer, sweeter bourbon. For me, though, it’s part of what makes this blend so satisfying. More importantly, the whiskey delivers on its promise without relying on an inflated age statement or an eye-watering price tag. At $69.99, you’re getting a 10-year-plus, 45-barrel MGP blend with excellent flavor, thoughtful execution, and the kind of transparency that should be standard across the industry.
Copper & Cask has once again managed to put together a whiskey that punches well above its price point. If you enjoy mature MGP bourbon, this is an easy recommendation. And if you’re already a fan of what Stephen Corrigan and the team have been doing, X-01 should do nothing but reinforce that confidence.
Bourbon Bishop Bottom Line:
A deep, savory, vanilla-loaded MGP blend with excellent spice, outstanding transparency, and downright ridiculous value at $70.
For those who prefer numbers, here’s the full score breakdown:
- Nose: 5.5 / 7
- Palate: 5.75 / 7
- Finish: 6.25 / 7
- Presentation: 6.5 / 7
- Distinctiveness: 5.5 / 7
- Transparency: 7 / 7
- Value: 7 / 7
Bourbon Bishop Rating: 6.21 / 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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