Malt | Weathered oak | Saltwater taffy | Light vegetalness | Faint pine

Malt | Weathered oak | Saltwater taffy | Light vegetalness | Faint pine

Roasted malt | Aged oak | White peppercorn | Dash of sea salt | Slight ethanol | Lingering malt

Copperworks Distilling Co. is a distillery located in downtown Seattle, Washington, and has been operating since 2013. Copperworks focuses on single malt whiskey, and variables across releases include the variety of barley, aging time, and characteristics of barrels used for aging. Special Release Arette Cask is part of the distillery’s Copperworks Whiskey Club. The whiskey is made by first aging the company’s signature Five Malt recipe for 5 years in a refilled American single malt whiskey cask. The whiskey is then aged for an additional 1 year and 9 months in used Arette tequila casks. Arette is a brand of tequila that is produced by Tequila Arette de Jalisco. Founded in the 1900s by the Orendain family in Mexico, the brand has been run by Eduardo and Jaime Orendain since 1976.

While finishing American whiskey in tequila barrels has gained popularity over the last few years, it’s usually a focus of bourbon or rye versus American single malt. While it has been done, some, like Lost Lantern 2022 Single Cask #11: Balcones Distilling Texas Single Malt Aged in a Tequila Barrel are aged entirely in a used tequila barrel, while others, such as Lost Lantern 2025 Single Cask #2: Andalusia Whiskey Co. Peated Texas Single Malt Finished in a Tequila Cask were finished for only a fraction of the time. Being located in the Pacific Northwest, Copperworks doesn’t have the harsh Texas aging environment seen in those other examples, but it does have time on its side, finishing for an extended period in a tequila barrel. The end result is a subdued single malt that nicely integrates its time in the tequila barrel into its overall sip.

The whiskey starts off with a subdued nose that highlights lighter scents of malt, weathered oak, saltwater taffy, and a hint of vegetalness. The palate breathes more life into the flavor profile with a wide range of flavors that run the gamut. Agave and sweet cream provide sweetness, while roasted malt and cocoa beans provide a more traditional base for a blueberry note to rest on. The finish turns more traditional with roasted malt, aged oak, and white peppercorn intermingling with a dash of sea salt and ethanol.

For as much time as Copperworks Special Release Arette Cask was finished in a tequila cask, the overall influence is more subdued in nature than expected. The midpoint exerts the most influence, while the nose and finish are more subtly influenced by the finishing barrel. Overall this will appeal to those who prefer a more traditional American single malt with a subtle finishing influence versus one that is more in your face.

The whiskey in review is bottle number 135 of 322.