Copper & Cask Small Batch Series #016 Bourbon Review

Distillery: Distilled in Indiana – Presumably MGP

Proof: 116.2 (58.1% ABV) 

Age: Eleven Years

Mashbill: 70% Corn, 36% Rye, 4% Malted Barley

MSRP: $85

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Layered.  Oak-driven. Rewards patience.

Copper & Cask’s Small Batch Series continues to lean into purposeful blending, extended maturation, and cask strength presentation with Batch #16.  This release pulls from 24 barrels of 11-year-old high-rye bourbon (60% corn, 36% rye, 4% malted barley), originally matured in Indiana before being selected and blended in Rhode Island.  Bottled at 116.2 proof with no secondary finishing, the focus here is squarely on maturity, structure, and blending intent rather than added relying on influence or novelty.

At 11 years, the expectation shifts toward oak and deep integration, while the high rye content introduces the potential for a spice-driven character.  At cask strength, that combination could easily push toward intensity or sharpness. With 24 barrels brought together, this isn’t just about how bold it can get, it’s about how well those barrels work together once they’re in the glass.

This bottle does not immediately present itself to you.  Instead, it unfolds slowly, requiring your attention before revealing what itself and what it has to offer.

Copper & Cask Small Batch Series #016 Bourbon Review: Tasting Notes

Nose – 3.7/5

Light honey.  Lemongrass.  Rye spice.  Faint grassy notes.  Subtle oak.
Strengths:  Nose develops with time, gradually showing layers of sweetness, citrus-leaning rye, and light herbal tones.  There is a clear progression that moves from sweet to spice to grass which suggests complexity in the pour.
Why It’s Not Higher:  Notes are muted and require more effort to find.  Requires extended time in the glass.
Rating Justification:  There is depth beneath the surface.  Lack of immediacy and clarity holds the Nose back.

Palate – 4.0/5

Light caramel sweetness.  Ripe orchard fruit.  Soft oak.  Building rye spice.  Faint citrus.
Strengths:  Builds deliberately.  Moves from a quiet, sweet entry into a fuller mid-Palate and eventually into a spice-driven crescendo.  That progression feels natural and connected; not disjointed.
Why It’s Not Higher:  Flavors remain somewhat indistinct.  Misses a level of definition that would elevate the tasting.
Rating Justification:  Ultimately satisfying.  Lacks clarity in flavor development.

Finish – 4.4/5

Rye spice.  Black pepper.  Warm oak.  Light and fading sweetness.
Strengths:  The Finish delivers the payoff.  Builds to a clear and focused spice-driven peak that coats the back of the throat.  
Why It’s Not Higher:  Does not evolve once it reaches its peak.  Would love for it to steadily fade and introduce new flavor layer.
Rating Justification:  It doesn’t evolve further, but it finishes in a way that leaves you satisfied rather than wanting more.

Value – 4.1/5

This is not a broadly accessible bourbon, nor does it try to be.  Its restrained notes and slower development make it best suited for drinkers who enjoy spending time with a glass rather than seeking immediate note clarity.  At $85, the combination of 11-year age, cask strength proof, and thoughtful blending makes for the right price point.  Its narrower appeal keeps it from reaching higher value.

Copper & Cask Small Batch Series #016 Bourbon Review: The Verdict

Copper & Cask Batch #16 does not announce itself on the Nose or the front of the Palate.  Instead, it builds gradually into a satisfying Finish.  The lack of clarity in its flavors may leave some drinkers searching, but for those willing to stay with it, the whiskey reveals a strong experience.

This is a thinking pour, one that rewards patience and attention rather than delivering instant impact.

Verdict – 4.1/5

We score each bourbon based on nose, palate, finish, and value.

Scoring System:

• Platinum – 4.5 – 5
• Gold – 4 – 4.5
• Silver – 3 – 4
• Bronze – <3