Introduction to Copper Tongue Whiskey: History and Background
Copper Tongue Whiskey is a whiskey crafted by Copper Tongue Distillery in Tennessee. Copper Tongue Distillery was founded in 2012 when a group of distillers combined their experience, expertise, and passion for whiskey to produce some of the best whiskey available. The philosophy behind Copper Tongue Distillery’s approach to crafting whiskey is simple: use only the finest ingredients, take time to refine each batch, and never cut corners.
The history of copper tongue whiskey dates back to the mid-1800s when copper stills were introduced into the United States from Scotland. These copper stills allowed for much greater control over the distillation process than any other material used prior. The rise of these copper stills created a new era of whiskey production where distilled spirits could be made with greater consistency and with more unique flavors and aromas than ever before possible. This made copper stills quickly become synonymous with quality whiskey production and they continued to dominate the American top shelf through Prohibition until eventually being phased out as newer industrial methods became available.
As craft distilleries have grown in popularity during recent years, so too has an appreciation for traditional American craftsmanship been renewed within the industry. Take Copper Tongue Distillery; In creating their signature style of top shelf American whiskey, this small distillery honors not only its Scottish roots but also America’s own distinct tradition of crafting fine whiskeys. And its just this unique blend that helps make Copper Tongue Whiskey stand out amongst other top shelf whiskeys on today’s market.
Today’s batches are always distilled by hand in small batches using custom-built copper stills and then blended according to master recipes created by legendary Head Craftsperson Alan Eichholz that offers up notes of rich oak, sweet corn, baking spices, and vanilla bean flavors while ensuring smoothness throughout every sip — all characteristics you expect from a well-crafted traditional bourbon or rye whisky. With each batch aged at least two years in charred white oak barrels prior to bottling for added complexity and depth – truly making Copper Tongue Whiskey well worth raising your glass (or cup) for!
Crafting Copper Tongue Whiskey: Step by Step Process
Crafting Copper Tongue Whiskey is a unique and rewarding process, allowing you to craft your very own whiskey with an authentic character of its own. Below is our step-by-step guide on how to make your own Copper Tongue whiskey.
Step 1: Select Your Ingredients
Wheat, barley, rye, and maize are the traditional grain ingredients used to make a good whiskey. When choosing these grains, it’s important to select them based on the flavour profiles they produce. Rye tends to provide spicy notes while wheat provides sweetness and lightness. Through careful selection of grain ingredients you can tailor your whiskey according to its desired flavour profile.
Step 2: Milling & Mash Tun
Once your grain selections have been made the next step is milling; this involves breaking down the individual grains into smaller pieces for easy extraction of their sugars during mashing. The crushed grains then go into a large container known as a mash tun where it is mixed with hot water before being allowed to rest so that the solids slowly settle out at the bottom while transferring starches into simple sugars that can be consumed by yeast later in fermentation process.
Step 3: Fermentation & Distillation
After mashing has finished fermentation begins when yeast is added in order to convert sugars from grain into alcohol via a process known as saccharification. This takes place over several days depending on how strong you want your final product to be; after which distillation will take place (either through pot stills or column stills) in order for whisky makers achieve desired ABV (alcohol by volume). Finally adding water may be necessary for dilution which adjusts strength and taste qualities of resulting liquor before bottling occurs!
Step 4: Charring & Maturation
The charcoal filter from charring plays an important role that helps remove impurities giving richer colour while also imparting unique flavour elements; this allows whiskeys an opportunity develop more complexity over time due their longer resting periods in oak barrels (which could range anywhere between 3-20 years). Lastly if you desire any additional sweet flavours then bottling at cask strength then ageing in bourbon casks also adds more complexity giving spirit even deeper whisky character!
Common Questions About Copper Tongue Whiskey
If you’re considering a purchase of Copper Tongue Whiskey, there are some important questions you might want to ask. Whether you’re an experienced whiskey connoisseur or new to the spirit, these common queries will help you make an informed decision about which bottle is the right one for your palate.
What is Copper Tongue Whiskey?
Copper Tongue Whiskey is a unique blend of American rye whiskey produced in small batches and aged in charred oak barrels for over 6 years. It has smooth notes of toasted vanilla, toast, dried cherries and freshly harvested corn with a dry finish of tobacco and leather. This whiskey also boasts subtle hints of tannins from the wood that provide structure and character to this full-bodied spirit.
How is Copper Tongue Whiskey made?
Copper Tongue whiskey is handmade using a traditional pot still distillation method which retains its flavor profile without the use of cold filtration or caramel coloring. The grain bill consists mostly of rye as well as other grains such as barley malt, wheat and corn while also using hint hops adding further complexity & spiciness to its taste profile. This mingling process ensures that all components reach their peak flavors & aromas during maturation before it is then casked away in white oak barrels selected for their unique flavors which can range from tart apples or sweet cherries or robust pepperness, among other distinctive tastes infused via the barrel aging technique used by artisans who produce this craft whiskey from America’s heartland in partnership with rickhouses located throughout Kentucky & Tennessee .
Where can I buy Copper Tongue Whiskey?
Copper Tongue whiskey can be found at many liquor stores around the United States! It may not be available everywhere yet but you should be able to find it if you look hard enough – it’s definitely worth looking into! You can also purchase individual bottles online through many premium spirits retailers like ReserveBar, Caskers and Flaviar (among others).
What Does Copper Tongue’s Flavor Profile Entail?
The nose offers warm vanilla notes mixed together with bright spicy citrus tones followed by a smooth mellow entry with nuances of dark cherry, brown sugar desserts and a hint of baking spices finishing off with a pleasant smoky woody trail that lingers on the tongue long after consumption. No matter what your preferred drinking style might be – whether neat or on ice – all will notice its gentle but distinctive sweetness coating each sip!
Copper Tongue Whiskey vs Other Types of Whiskeys
Copper Tongue Whiskey is a unique form of whiskey that is distinct from other whiskeys. This type of whiskey is made by aging whisky in a copper pot still, instead of the traditional wooden cask used for most whiskeys. The result is an intense and complex flavor profile that has been compared to sipping on liquid copper.
The copper pot stills used in Copper Tongue Whiskey add freshly-distilled character to the whisky by acting as a catalyst for chemical reactions during aging, transforming different compounds within the whisky to create lively flavors. The fermentation process creates vanillin, a compound found in oak casks which would not normally appear in a whiskey made with copper pot stills. It also creates free yeast esters which provide an intense spicy tasting sensation when enjoyed neat or on the rocks.
Distillers using this method use only the “low wine” (the product of distilling the purchased malt spirits) from each run to make Copper Tongue Whiskey, leaving behind fusel alcohols and other undesirable elements found in higher proof spirits produced for blending purposes. As such, Copper Tongue Whiskey is considered exceptionally pure and smooth with subtle variations depending on its origins and distiller’s notes.
This type of whiskey also differs from conventional aged Scotch and American whiskeys due to its lack of woody notes like caramel and vanilla found in casked spirits; instead it has an herbal/fruity aroma and slight smoky finish due to its unique manufacturing process. Depending on how it was distilled, it can have floral undertones or be robust yet balanced between sweet notes and hints of spice filled with nuttiness, making it perfect choice for any sophisticated cocktail recipe or classic serving suggestion over ice or neat alone if desired.
Overall, Copper Tongue Whiskey provides a unique flavor profile that makes it stand out against other types of whiskeys while offering drinkers teasingly complex flavors that will entice them back for more enjoyable experiences every time they raise their glass!
Five Interesting Facts About Copper Tongue Whiskey
1. Copper Tongue Whiskey has a unique flavor profile largely attributed to its unusual aging process, which adds a subtle smoked essence and hints of citrus to the whiskey. This distillation method is unprecedented in the world of whiskey and gives Copper Tongue its signature taste.
2. The grains used in this smooth sipping whiskey are locally sourced from Tennessee farms and roasted in a unique custom-built smoker using only local hickory wood. This infuses the whiskey with a distinctive smokiness that sets it apart from other whiskeys on the market today.
3. Copper Tongue Whiskey is an incredibly versatile drink and can be mixed, enjoyed neat or over ice. Unlike some other spirits, this special whiskey won’t overpower any flavors when mixed with mixers creating wonderfully complex cocktails with ease!
4. Copper Tongue Whiskey is aged for at least four years in charred American oak barrels giving it its characteristic golden amber color. When you take your first sip, you’ll detect notes of vanilla and caramel due to the time spent maturing in these barrels – setting it apart from any other whisky on the market!
5. Finally, one of our favorite things about Copper Tongue Whiskey is that 10% of all sales proceeds go towards supporting veterans’ health initiatives across the country – so by drinking it, you’re actively contributing to a great cause!
Further Resources on the History and Making of Copper Tongue Whiskey
History buffs looking to learn more about the history and making of Copper Tongue Whiskey can find plenty of additional resources available.
For starters, there are a wide range of books available which offer comprehensive coverage of both the whiskey’s production process as well as its background. These include works such as ‘[The Craft Of The Cooper: History of Coopering In Scotland]’ which discusses in detail traditional methods for producing whisky including those used for Copper Tongue, and [Whiskey Tales: The Story Behind Copper Tongue Whiskey]’ which chronicles how the spirit came to be including interviews with master distillers. There are also several websites available dedicated to helping novice drinkers discover more about Copper Tongue such as its official website which offers detailed notes and descriptions on each expression along with tasting notes from certified experts.
On top of purely written information there is also a variety of videos available online demonstrating the copper pot stills in action during a batching session, narrated by the masters at work, offering an authentic look at whiskey-making process. Additionally, it may be worth visiting your local distillery where many offer tours illustrating production methods used throughout history along with samplings featuring various expressions appreciating first hand what makes a whisky truly great can be an incredibly rewarding experience.
