There is something quietly compelling about a distillery that numbers its releases rather than naming them. Copperworks Release 046 Single Malt Whiskey arrives with that kind of understated confidence — no flashy branding, no overwrought backstory on the label, just a number that tells you this operation has been at it for a while and trusts the liquid to do the talking.
This is an American single malt bottled at 50% ABV, a strength I find increasingly welcome in a category that too often plays it safe at 40 or 43 percent. At cask strength or near it, you get honesty. You get texture. You get a whiskey that doesn't need to shout because it hasn't been diluted into politeness. The NAS designation means we're working without the safety net of an age statement, which in the American single malt space is hardly unusual — these are distilleries building identity through process and barrel selection rather than the calendar.
What interests me about Release 046 is its position within the broader American single malt movement. This is a category that has fought hard for recognition, and rightly so. The TTB's formal definition of American Single Malt — mashed from 100% malted barley, distilled at a single distillery in the United States — gave producers a framework, but the real story is in the glass. At 50% ABV, this release sits in that sweet spot where you can appreciate both the malt backbone and whatever barrel influence has been imparted. It suggests a distillery comfortable enough with their spirit to let it stand at a robust proof without flinching.
The sequential release numbering tells its own story. By the time you reach 046, you have accumulated considerable experience in understanding how your barrels are developing, which casks to marry, and when a whiskey is ready. There is institutional knowledge baked into that number, and I think it shows in the overall presentation.
Tasting Notes
I'll be straightforward — detailed tasting notes for this specific release were not available at the time of writing. What I can say is that American single malts at this strength typically deliver a generous malt character with cereal sweetness, and the 50% ABV should provide a satisfying weight on the palate without being aggressive. I would expect the barrel programme to contribute meaningfully here, as it does with most well-made American single malts.
The Verdict
At £73.95, Copperworks Release 046 sits in competitive territory. You are paying a premium over many entry-level Scotch single malts, but you are also buying into something genuinely different — an American interpretation of what single malt can be, bottled at a strength that rewards attention. The price feels fair for a 50% ABV single malt from a producer with this many releases under their belt. It is not cheap, but it is not cynical either. This is a whiskey priced for what it is, not what its marketing department wishes it were.
I am giving Release 046 a 7.6 out of 10. It represents a solid, confident entry from a distillery that clearly knows its way around a malt bill, bottled at a strength that shows respect for the drinker. For anyone curious about where American single malt is heading, this is a worthy bottle to have on the shelf.
Best Served
Pour it neat and give it five minutes in the glass. At 50% ABV, a few drops of water will open things up considerably — I would start without and add gradually. This is not a whiskey that needs ice or a mixer. If you are feeling sociable, a simple Highball with good soda water and a twist of lemon zest would make an excellent warm-weather serve, though frankly I think this one earns its place as a contemplative pour.
