CR&FTWERK Brandy
Finished in Sierra Nevada Imperial Smoked Porter Barrels
copper pot-distilled American brandy
55.5% ABV (111 proof)
non-chill filtered, natural color, no boise
not sure about pricing (press sample)
Intro: Joe Heron at Copper & Kings sent me 4 samples from an upcoming release of "CR&FTWERK" American brandies aged for a full 12 months in beer barrels (thank you!). This is the first of 4 I'll be taking a look at: it is finished in Sierra Nevada Smoked Imperial Porter barrels. Joe says there's a month of aging left, and that an ice cube is absolutely essential to the experience. So that's what I'm going to do! Check out the third picture below for an information sheet on the upcoming release.
Color: medium brown, nectarine tint.Smell: as with the Reserve Casks Brandy (reviewed here), this is a delicate nose. It's 111 proof, and you can just sniff it all in without an issue. There are sweet notes of vanilla and caramel and a big malt note, but there's also an underpinning hops influence - I get slight citrus and some pine - along with red fruit. With ice, the brandy clouds up nicely and things become much more aromatic in terms of what I think are the beer flavors. I get distinct smokiness rising up on the nose, and the sweetness and malt really shine through.
Taste: creamy and soft on entry with the red berry and caramel sweetness in spades. Again, so delicate and smooth on the palate - this isn't at all "big" like many overproof bourbons. The midpalate and finish involve a little bit more oak and spice, and this is also where the hops come into play on a medium-length finish, along with some smoke. It's a smooth flavor explosion. With ice, it's silky smooth - sweet berries and smoky malt...the oak/spice notes fade away, leaving just a hint of citrus and hops.Overall: I love it. Dynamite stuff, and I can't wait to taste my way through the remaining 3!
