If you’re new here, welcome to Two Drams A Day! Each article is a personal journey where I pair two whiskies, often Scotch single malts among others, to discover the subtle differences that make each one unique and special. My approach is hands-on and intimate: I taste these whiskies side-by-side and share my real-time observations, from unexpected delights to the occasional letdowns. In the end, I choose a favourite, and along the way, I hope to learn something new and share that knowledge with you. If you’re curious about the nuanced and fascinating world of whisky and enjoy a personal touch in your reading, you’re in the right place. Stick around, subscribe, and join me on this flavorful adventure, two drams at a time!

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Picking up where I left off last year, we’re onto the 14th dram from That Boutique-y Whisky Company (TBWC) Advent Calendar of 2022, and it’s a 3-year-0ld bottling of the Coppersea Rye whisky (first batch). To pick the right contender, I dip into my personal collection and pull out the Sonoma Rye, which I have been sipping on for the last couple of months. Glad to see it finally come out for a bout! I am a big fan of rye, particularly the Sonoma distillery, so my prediction is that it will win this round (because I never heard of the Coppersea before). So, let’s see where this goes. Are you ready? But first, we need music! Now playing: Moss Covered Technology – And His Many Seas.

Let’s begin with the Coppersea. This is a distillery in the Hudson Valley of New York (just north of NYC), which uses all the traditional methods of American whisky-making, floor malting their own grown grain and all! Besides making straight rye whiskey and bourbon, they also create malt whisky (from barley this time, of course). This TBWC bottling is 100% malted rye, matured for 3 years before being bottled at 49.8% ABV. I’m not sure what type of barrels it spent its life in (I think it’s American oak), but the nose is incredibly dark and honeyed, with a pretty punchy “rye profile”. The Sonoma is from the other side of the coast. It’s a California-based distillery that makes straight rye, bourbon, and wheat whiskies (my favourite is the Cherrywood Smoked Rye). The Sonoma Rye is classically double-pot distilled from a mashbill of 80% California and Canada-grown and 20% UK-malted rye. I don’t know how old it is, but I guess it would have to be at least two years, after which it was bottled at 46.5% ABV. Is it coloured? Is it filtered? I have no idea. The US market is a little vague, although they do begin to appreciate some transparency (and competition) by listing the mashbill and origin of the grain on the bottle. It’s a bit lighter and more floral on the nose, and I cannot wait to taste these side by side. OK, let’s do it!

Let’s start with the Coppersea again. Whoah! It’s super complex, and I can taste gorgeous rye bread soaked in sugar water. It has a very long and lingering finish with a tail of spice from cinnamon and nutmeg. I can still taste it even minutes later! Let me take a sip of water and go on to the Sonoma now. It’s drier, less sweet, more woodsy, and bright. This is very interesting to me because, when I had this whiskey by itself, I always considered it a darker experience, but next to the Coppersea, it’s definitely fairer. Another good reason to taste side-by-side! Let’s add a drop of water to both now to have them open up (alcohol locks in all of those flavours!). Okay, the Coppersea has mellowed out a bit, but now I taste even more honey sweetness than before. To be honest, after the Sonoma, it tastes a bit too sweet for me. I wonder if they used some other casks (their website shows PX cask single barrel rye as one of the products – so they definitely have access to the right casks). The Sonoma has the right balance of sweetness and bitterness, and with water, everything seems to be just right. Let’s add a bit more water and go in reverse. Now, the Sonoma tastes slightly bitter, while the Coppersea has definitely toned down in sweetness and seems to be just right. I wouldn’t dare put these punchy characters on ice, but I can see how the profile of the spirit can transform, even with just a few drops of pure water.

Distillery / Region	Coppersea / US	Sonoma / US
Bottler / Series	TBWC / Rye Series	Distillery bottling
Stated Age	3 years old	NAS
Cask type	?	?
ABV / Cask Strength	49.8% / No	46.5% / No
Non-chill filtered/ Uncoloured	Yes / Yes 🌟	Not so sure
Price	£65 but for 50cl	£54
Did it win? / Did I like it?	Yes / Yes, but needs water	Yes / Yes, balanced delivery
Would I buy it? / Recommend it?	Yes already on it / absolutely	Yes / Yes for fans of rye

So, there you have it, folks. Another interesting pairing. What have we learned today? I think I like that rye! And I’ll admit that even with fewer technical details of the spirit (including the age statement), I still enjoy the flavour locked within! For a nightcap, I poured myself a dram of that Cherrywood Smoked Rye, and I have to say, it’s absolutely gorgeous. So yes, I am a fan of the Sonoma, I’ll admit. But I was pleasantly surprised by what came out from its contender, especially as it evolved. I also trust TBWC implicitly to deliver an integrity bottling, and this I praise in my mind and my mouth. With that, I’ll pause here and proclaim a perfect tie between the two because if I were given a choice between my next dram, I wouldn’t be able to decide and most likely reach for them both! Now, let’s find an entire bottle of that Coppersea!