Copper & Kings is based out of Louisville, Kentucky, and has made a name for themselves with their brandy and non-whiskey products. The company introduced two limited distillery-only bourbons in 2022, however, for the first time, they’re releasing a bourbon that will be available throughout the state of Kentucky. According to the press release, Copper & Kings Bourbon is a blend of 5, 10, and 15-year-old Kentucky straight bourbons that have been finished in the company’s American Apple Brandy barrels for 12 months. Head Distiller Brandon O’Daniel goes on to state that “our bourbon is another feather in the cap for Copper & Kings. We are born and raised in the bluegrass state and although we will always be a brandy distillery we are also extremely fascinated with what our barrels can do in regards to finishing spirits.”

The aroma opens on warm cinnamon notes that rest upon a layer of baked apple bread. Lying beneath are gentle classic scents of rich oak, vanilla, brown sugar, and leather. The apple brandy finish is evident the deeper you inhale, but never crosses the point of spoiling the overall balance of scents. The proof helps amplify the scents without overpowering any single one in particular, and their richness hides its full 111 proof points well. Overall, a pleasing way to start things off.

Classic notes carry over to the palate as brown sugar, vanilla cream, cinnamon, and oak set the base. Exploring further brings out apple butter, baking spices, and gentle rye spice. The flavors work well together, however, considering the ages of the bourbons in the blend and the extended time in the finishing barrels, they come across as being slightly held back. Thankfully the creaminess of the mouthfeel helps to add a great depth to the overall composition and is a highlight of the sip elevating all the surrounding components around it.

Vanilla cream takes charge and quickly fades to the background as a rush of cinnamon and gentle rye spice come forward. Light oak, leather, and dried apple pop up for a brief moment before dropping off. Peppercorn spice and vanilla cream linger with a warm, pleasing heat. A nice way to wrap things up, though, much like the palate, it is surprising that the higher aged bourbons in the blend don’t play a greater role here.

This isn’t the first time that Copper & Kings has tried their hand at finishing bourbon. In 2022, the company released a Bourbon in Apple and a Bourbon in Grape that were distillery exclusives. Copper & Kings Bourbon marks the first time consumers will have a chance to try their bourbon outside of the distillery. Unlike the current release,  previous releases used a blend of sourced 5 and 6 year old bourbons that were finished for 13 months in Copper & Kings’ used brandy barrels. While similar in theory, the end result is much different.

While their Bourbon in Grape resulted in a really unique flavor profile, Bourbon in Apple provides for a closer comparison with Copper & Kings Bourbon. Whereas the former release really owned its 122 proof, almost to a fault, this current release drinks surprisingly lighter than its 111 proof suggests. Bourbon in Apple's fault was that it over-indexed on spices and heat and as a result really pushed its proof on you. It could be the slightly lower proof or the higher-aged bourbons used in the blend, however, Copper & Kings Bourbon avoids that pitfall this time around.

The most unique aspect of this bourbon isn’t how it tastes, it’s how it’s made. Yes, blending sourced Kentucky bourbons is commonplace, but what’s less common is a company using their own used spirits barrels to finish the bourbon in. Even if it can be assumed that Copper & Kings chose specific used barrels that they felt would best complement the blend of bourbons being put in the barrels, it doesn’t take away from the fact that you don’t see this happen in this order. The vast majority of the time, it’s a bourbon distiller procuring used barrels to finish their bourbon in, not vice versa. This release made me realize just how much I’d love to see other non-whiskey spirits producers age and finish bourbon in their used cooperage.

Coming in at $65, Copper & Kings Bourbon is priced right where it should be, if not realistically slightly undervalued. Yes, the bourbon uses a blend of high-aged Kentucky bourbon, however, based on the flavor profile of the whiskey, my guess would be that a predominant portion of the blend is the 5 year component. Thanks to the additional year spent finishing in used cooperage, Copper & Kings Bourbon stands out from other blended bourbons in this price range. While $65 may not feel like a lot for bourbon based on ever-skyrocketing prices, consumers should still expect a lot from a bourbon at this price point. Copper & Kings Bourbon delivers in that regard, providing a well-rounded sip that highlights its finishing component without going overboard for a price that is easily justified based on this.

When Copper & Kings initially released their first finished bourbons, I found their Bourbon in Apple to be over-indexing on spices and heat. Thankfully the company learned from that experience, and Copper & Kings Bourbon delivers a sip that is improved. Lovers of their apple brandy products will appreciate the hints of apple brandy influence found throughout, while bourbon drinkers will take solace in the creamy mouthfeel and classic flavor notes that lay the foundation. The sip never pushes limits or strays too far away from its core, instead focusing on highlighting what it seems to know best. While I would have liked the bourbon to be just a bit more assertive in the nose and finish, it still produces a sip that distinguishes itself from other finished whiskeys. This is a nice second step from Copper & Kings, and I look forward to them hopefully opening the availability of their bourbon line outside of the Bluegrass state in the future.