IslacalifaJoe Wagner and Kyle Stroud founded Copper Cane Spirits in 2014. Joe Wagner is a fifth-generation winemaker from Nappa Valley, and Copper Cane began by distilling apple brandy before expanding into whiskies. They pay particular attention to the local grains selected for their offerings, wanting to lean into what the state of California has to offer, much like the terroir-driven ethos often found in wine making. The IslaCalifa is a 5 year single malt named after Califa, the ficitional queen of an island found in the popular 16th cenutry novel Las Sergas de Esplandián (The Adventures of Esplandián). When the first Spanish explorers first reached the Baja  penninusula of California, they wondered if they’d reached the same paradise and thus named it after the fictional queen. IslaCalifa is grown using Northern California two-row barley that is smoked using cherry wood, and aged in a mix of French and American oak barrels before being finished for 1 month in Forté wine barrels. The Forté vineyards in California grow port-style dessert wines.

Distillery: Copper Cane Spirits
Country: United States
Age: 5 years
Strength: 48%
Price: $59.99
Maturation: ex-forté wine barrels
Location: Modesto, CA
Nose: Fig, Amaretto, cherry, oak, dates, grain
Palate: Spice, fig, apricot, alfalfa, smoke
Finish: Wood, grain, grape

Comments: Check more than one location if you can, as prices seem to vary wildly.

Adam – The nose of the Islacalifa is like stepping into a bakery, a swirl of spices and figs and grains. There is a peripharial sweetness like the kind you get with stone fruits or even just fresh grains but that note doesn’t dominate, only encourages. The palate opens with those same spices dancing with the lightest dab of smoke and the notes of wood have a lovely varnish on them by way of a moderately oily mouthfeel. No burn, here. The finish warms the chest with an oaken glow of gentle vanilla and spice, tinged just like the nose with the memory of fortified wine long past.

Henry – Intriguing nose of cherry wood, bitter almond, baking spices, and stewed figs and dates. Smoke and salt enter on the palate, with salted caramel and chocolate and a hint of jammy red fruit. Sweetness and vanilla with spice linger on the finish. A curious and wonderful dram for wine lovers.

This is not a whisky where you have it after a hard day. It’s special, before a meal or after a meal.

Ben – In the nose, there’s an amaretto thing going on. This is not a whisky where you have it after a hard day. It’s special, before a meal or after a meal. This reminds me a little bit of that Plumwood from Branch and Barrel. The fruit here is like a juju fruit but the grain brings me closer to good fruit cake.

Bill – The wine finish comes through on the nose straight up for me. The palate has a lot of fruit and a lot of fun. 

Mike – On the nose there’s almost a dust but instead of dust it’s the actual wood. The Islacalifa is quite enjoyable. I like the fruitiness without it having any funk from the wine. I do get some of the grain with it and is something I’d definitely revisit.