The Cooper Spirits Company Lock, Stock & Barrel 13 Year Old Straight Rye Whiskey

A place that you would not immediately associate with whiskey is Philadelphia. Yet that is where the Cooper Spirits Company was founded in 2006. They call themselves ‘makers of rare and fine spirits’. You would be forgiven to think that this rye whiskey – made from 100% rye by the way – was distilled in Philadelphia. However, that is not the case. This whiskey was sourced from the Canadian Alberta Distillery in Calgary. The impressive packaging refers to the glory days of the Wild West and its saloons.

The nose is sweet and spicy on caramel, vanilla, leather, pecan nuts and something that makes me think gingerbread (but not quite). But it is different because a big herhal note. Something green… I’d say dill.

It is fairly mouth coating and piquant upon arrival. Again sweet, without becoming a sweet whiskey, if you know what I eman. The emphasis is on a rather lovely spiciness. Cloves and all kinds of peppers (without overdoing it). That is, of course, the rye speaking.

The finish is somewhat drying, but not very long.

Nice rye whiskey, without being grand, but hard to find as it’s a limited release. But no worries, Cooper has by now also released a 16 year old. Thanks for the sample, Jan!