ABOUT THIS BOTTLING

Our first batch from the Coppersea distillery is a 3 Year Old, a release of just 168 bottles at 48.9% abv. It’s a 100% malted Rye, a marriage of one 53 and one 30 gallon casks.

The Coppersea distillery is nestled in the idyllic Hudson Valley of New York, just north of New York City. There, on their certified organic farm, they grow and floor malt grain. We liked their approach to self-described ‘Heritage Methods’ of distillation.

Coppersea are part of a movement that we’re seeing in the US to reclaim some regional identity in once very prolific distilling locales. Thus their name, harkening back when the Hudson Valley of New York was a sea of copper stills from local farms making whisky and the occasional brandy.

The distillery sits on a 75 acre farm, ⅔ of it is arable for certified organic grain. They have their own floor malting barn onsite. They use direct-fire stills, and open top fermentation. They grow grain on the farm, and any additional grain they supplement with, comes within 20 miles of the distillery. They mature their spirit at a low barrel proof which emphasizes more flavour over warehouse space efficiency. They also work with a local cooper to have casks made from New York oak.

If a distiller from the 19th century were to suddenly appear onsite, they would certainly know their way around the process and equipment.

NOSE

Rye sourdough starter, linseed putty, earthy honey, turmeric and caraway.

TASTE

Cinnamon buns, toasted rye sourdough, salted caramel, allspice, nutmeg, clove, and a cumin earthiness. With honey sweetness and nutmeg lingering in the short finish

ABOUT THE LABEL

We wanted to highlight the Bonticou Crag that overlooks the distillery to showcase the area and farm. It’s also an homage to the name of their original bottling of malted rye.

The women drinking on the ledge, Liberty and Justice, are found on both the New York State seal and the Empire Rye designation seal.

They’re exclaiming ‘Excelsior!’ in a toast to the region, which not only is the state motto, but has been adopted by Coppersea to firmly root their distillery within New York.