Copperworks Peated
Copperworks Distilling has eschewed the normal distillery commercial standard by having a limited product offering but achieving uniformity between batches. Rather, the distillery has leaned purposefully into crafting each release as a limited, distinct expression that allows them to explore the subtle nuances that differences of grains, yeasts and cask aging can provide, while still holding onto some house styles. The Copperworks Peated is their 34th release, and is made from eight casks of whiskey that were aged for a little over four years, with Washington barley smoked using Washington peat, a first for the distillery. Copperworks has since signaled it will distill peated whiskies on an annual basis.
Method and Madness Virgin Hungarian Oak
The Method and Madness brand was launched a number of years ago as the experimental lab at Midleton distillery. Mildeton is the starting point for a number of familiar Irish whiskey brands, and this lab is a place where the different masters and apprentices can come together and share knowledge and ideas. The result is an exploration of many variants in Irish whiskey, from single grain to single malt to pot still, but using elements that are rarely seen. It’s a place to push the envelope and take risks to discover something new. Most of these elements, at least so far, are featured as different cask finishes. The Method and Madness Virgin Hungarian Oak is a single pot still whiskey finished for an undisclosed amount of time in virgin Hungarian oak casks.
Colkegan Single Malt
Santa Fe Spirits was founded in 2010 by Englishman Colin Keegan. An architect by trade, Colin and his family built their home on an old apple orchard in the American Southwest in the early 90s. Colin decided to look at the Recession of 2008/09 as an opportunity and founded Santa Fe Spirits. After a decade and more in production, Santa Fe Spirits offer vodka, gin, apple brandy (from the orchards) and liqueurs. Their flagship product, however, is the Colkegan Single Malt. A portmanteau of the distillery’s founder, the Colkegan line uses local mesquite wood to dry a portion of the barley used in the whiskey, with other versions using various proofage and cask finishes.