Brian’s Coopers’ Craft 100 Proof Review:
reviewed 07-September-2023
COOPERS CRAFT 100 PROOF BOURBON REVIEW:
Coopers’ Craft 100 Proof (Coopers Craft) offers inviting aromas of barrel tannin, roasted corn, and a delightful blend of fresh apple, dark fruits, cinnamon and nutmeg. These aromas transfer to the taste and are accompanied by warm flavors of brown sugar caramel, dark molasses, and pinenuts. The liquid turns viscous as it is held and its exceptionally long finish includes tannin, dark fruits, and woody caramel. The captivating look is enhanced by carved barrels, adding the richness of well-worn leather. All the while, its lingering scent evokes memories of freshly stacked oak lumber, readied for drying. Coopers’ Craft 100 Proof Bourbon will likely not have that magical WOW factor for everyone, but at under thirty bucks, getting another bottle or two is a no-brainer for me.
COOPERS CRAFT 100 PROOF VITAL STATS:
Category: Straight Bourbon
Region: Louisville, KY
Distillery: Brown-Forman
Mash Bill Blend: 72% corn,18% rye and 10% malt and 79% corn, 11% rye and 10% malted barley.
Barrel Char: #4
Barrel entry proof: 125
Age: nas, straight bourbon without an age statement, assumed to be 4+ years old
ABV: 50% (100 Proof)
Fair Price: $43.76 (BoozApp)
Paid $29.80 (Montana, July 2023)
“Coopers’ Craft was created to honor the Brown-Forman barrel makers. Since 1945, we have remained the only major distiller to own a new barrel cooperage and raise our own barrels, allowing us complete control of the bourbon-making process from start to finish. Our master coopers rely on a proprietary toasting and barrel-making process to deliver unique and award-winning bourbons ranging from light and gentle to bold and complex.”
Learn more at Coopers’ Craft.
ENJOYMENT METHOD FOR THE REVIEW:
On Day 7 of the 2023 30 Bourbons in 30 Days Challenge, I poured approximately four ounces from a freshly opened bottle into Glencairn glass. After uploading pictures and nosing the pour during the review, about 30 minutes had gone by before my first sip.
COOPERS CRAFT 100 PROOF NOSE:
As soon as Coopers’ Craft is opened, an inviting aroma of brown sugar wafts from the bottle. When the glass is raised, the rich essence of barrel tannin greets my nose. Aromas of warm roasted corn gradually transition into fresh apple, dark fruits, and raisins, adding complexity. And traditional spices of cinnamon, nutmeg, and white pepper provide a contrast. The undertone of brown sugared, apple-cinnamon pastry offers a hint of sweetness along with a subtle touch of light vanilla. As I breath in, the aroma deepens to dark toasted pecan blended into bro caramel with a touch of dark molasses. There’s dry sawdust to give the pour a textured earthiness, and an essence of old oak. while toasted wood and barrel char which add to the depth and complexity. The nose is somehow comforting, like a well-worn leather armchair in a dimly lit whiskey bar.
COOPERS CRAFT 100 PROOF PALATE:
Coopers’ Craft delivers a palate of delightful heat and deep, dark robust flavors. I sense subtle barrel tannins, the essence of corn and grain, and the tantalizing presence of currants and dark stone fruit. In the sips which follow, additional dark fruits of raisins and prune are accompanied by spices of cinnamon, black pepper, and rye to dance on the tongue. Amidst the flavor symphony, rich vanilla enhances dark chocolate to create a backdrop of sweet and bitter. The flavors continue to deepen with notes of burnt woody caramel, dark molasses, and dark toffee, now with pinenuts, while dry old oak, and smoky barrel char give wood-forward complexity. As I sip, I feel transported to the same aged leather armchair positioned near a freshly watered potted plant, whose earthiness adds a distinctive and memorable touch. For a sub-thirty dollar bourbon, this is stellar.
Balance, Body, Feel and Look:
Coopers’ Craft showcases impressive balance in its elements of fruit, spice, sweet and wood. The masterful blend is a compliment to the cooper’s addional barrel work. The initial sip gives an impression of an almost watery lightness, however, as the mouthful lingers, an unexpected transformation occurs; the liquid becomes rough and gritty, particularly on the underside of the tongue. Yet, as I savor slowly, I am rewarded — The bourbon turns quite viscous the longer it is held. After each sip, thin, long legs appear, only to leave an elegant trail behind. In the glass, above the dark terracotta-colored pool, a solid inverted crown with clinging droplets appear, then they too, slowly descend.
COOPERS CRAFT 100 PROOF FINISH
Coopers’ Craft 100 Proof Bourbon offers a dry, throat-warming and impressively long finish. As found on the nose and in the palate, barrel tannins are accompanied corn and grain. The darkness of raisins and prune continue with familiar spices of cinnamon, ginger, black pepper, and rye. Woody caramel, dark molasses, and dark toffee add depth to the wood-forward profile continue the established theme complementing the memory of dry old oak and a subtle haze of barrel char while leather notes add a touch of sophistication to the final act. As I savor the last drop, the empty Glencairn glass offers up the bourbon’s essence, carrying the lingering scent of drying racks stacked with new oak lumber.
MY RATING: 87/100
Will I buy this whiskey again? YES
Click to read Brian’s scoring process.
Click 87/100 to access other whiskies with this score.
To access other reviews from this brand, click Brown-Forman.
WHISKEY TRAITS, FLAVOR NOTES AND PROFILE GRAPH:
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