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Coppersea Excelsior Straight Bourbon Whisky

Coppersea Excelsior Straight Bourbon Whisky

(0.75l, 48%)


6.4/10
Price:
$69.99
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An old-school pre-prohibition Bourbon from Upstate New York.

Now, this Whisky’s name is loaded with images of yesteryear and symbolism, so let’s unwrap this verbiage first: Coppersea takes us back to the 19th Century when the Hudson Valley in New York was a constellation of copper stills that churned gallons of Spirit before the wicked times of Prohibition. The know-how and tradition that sprung from that sea of copper, is still present today. Agnus MacDonald, the owner and master distiller at Coppersea, says they want to keep it primitive when it comes to Whiskey production. But their philosophy isn’t primitive – that’s when the word excelsior comes in: it’s an Empire State motto and it means "ever upward" in some dead language. Now, Excelsior Straight Bourbon is 100% New York, which means you might hear Stanley Turrentine, cab drivers honking and someone shouting at you to get out of their way for some reason, when you open the bottle.

Except the Coppersea Distillery is actually a farm upstate, so you should hear rivers, bees, and someone shouting at you to get out of their way. This decadent Bourbon is made in-house with grain that grows nearby. Talk about locally produced free-range Whisky, right? Even the casks are made of New York oak and this Whiskey is supposed to be the first one to mature in such oak after the Prohibition. By the way: why is locally sourced grain so important? Glad you asked! It's all about controlled sprouting, converting starch into sugars and enzymes, but the most crucial thing here is the result: a uniquely redolent Whisky with fresh and full flavor and complexity that comes from a process called direct firing (skip the steam, fire the still directly, like in the good ole days). 
  • Category
    Bourbon
  • Style
    Straight Bourbon Whisky
  • Region
    New York
  • Country
    United States
  • Alcohol
    48%
  • Distillery
    Coppersea
  • Age
    NAS
  • Maturation
    New York casks

Flavor Spiral™

About The Flavor Spiral

Close
caramel
peach
black pepper
spicy
bonfire
woody
vanilla
grain
oak
What does Coppersea Excelsior Straight Bourbon Whisky taste like?

The Flavor Spiral™ shows the most common flavors that you'll taste in Coppersea Excelsior Straight Bourbon Whisky and gives you a chance to have a taste of it before actually tasting it.

We invented Flavor Spiral™ here at Flaviar to get all your senses involved in tasting drinks and, frankly, because we think that classic tasting notes are boring.
Dog Dogson
Dog Dogson's
Smartass
Corner
Bourbon must be made from a grain mixture that is at least 51% corn.

Tasting Notes
Appearance / Color
Golden

Nose / Aroma / Smell
Vanilla, campfire wood, caramel. 

Flavor / Taste / Palate
Caramel, black pepper, vanilla, peaches. 

Finish
Medium, aromatic, lingering spices.

This drink is featured in

Whiskey Gangs Of New York
Whiskey Gangs Of New York
The NY Whiskey turfs
Whisk(e)y
6.8/10
$41.99

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Ratings & Reviews
Member Reviews and Ratings of Coppersea Excelsior Straight Bourbon Whisky
Heather
Heather,
Starts strong and the smell was intense. Enjoyed the spice. Definitely not as terrible as these reviews. Probably would not buy a bottle but enjoyable.
 
Jim
Jim,
Didn't really like this. Opens with oak and medicine on the nose. The taste is sweet with wood and an oily flavor (not so great). The finish is a quick spice with some grain. Won't look for this again.
 
Jon
Jon,
It just had a flavor I personally did not care for
 
Tarun
Tarun,
Strong refreshing caramel scent with a enjoyable oaky taste
 
Carl
Carl,
Odd nose, carries through the finish. Wood, wood and more wood.
 
Tara
Tara,
Butterscotch on the nose, peppery on the taste. Interesting flavor to switch bourbon up.
 
Henry
Henry,
I don’t care how the reviews are on this one; it almost tested “leathery” which was nice. A good difference from the other two samples.
 
John
John,
This was terrible - came in my taste of new york sampler. I poured it down the drain. I seriously could not get past two sips of it. I got a little bit of peach, but the previous reviewer got it right on with the vomit comment. Disgusting.
 
Jeffrey
Jeffrey,
On the nose, the predominant odor is stale vomit, most likely a baby's due to the sour milk overtones. If you can overcome your gag reflex long enough, you might pick up some caramel or oak notes. On the palate, the alcohol burn competes with the vomit for supremacy. All adding water does is prolong the misery of drinking it.
 
Christopher
Christopher,
Nice, full flavor bourbon.
 
Brian
Brian,
Smelled and tasted like Scotch, and I am not a Scotch drinker. If that’s your taste, this is a good quality bourbon.
 
Scott
Scott,
Odd nose and finish. Odd peachy flavor.
 
Craig
Craig,
Hi
 
Charesse
Charesse,
I did not like this one. not enough caramel in the front and a lot of spice.
 
Jordan
Jordan,
Spicy with strong peppery notes that overpowers in the finish.
 
Sam
Sam,
Smooth taste, peppery and a bit salty
 
Bradley
Bradley,
Too tart. Would not purchase.
 
Gregory
Gregory,
Sweet with a little spice. Surprisingly enjoyable. Seems like it would be good used in an old fashion.
 
Mark
Mark,
The peach flavor overpowered the caramel to the point of an unusual flavor that I personally did not like
Paul
Paul,
I agree with Mark and I’m very surprised of the price on this one.
Jeff
Jeff,
Little rough on spice and pepper. I also got leftover particles in my sample.
 
Ashley
Ashley,
Rough going down.
 
Tara
Tara,
Too much vanilla scent and caramel flavor.
 
Justin
Justin,
It’s kind of bland and very young tasting. Straight it had very little remarkable notes with a bit of spice and oak on the nose. With a little ice to open it up the Carmel notes and a hint of char or campfire is present. Not very complex I would use as a mixer as opposed to a sipper.
 
Christopher
Christopher,
Refreshing and unique. Not a glass I would have every night, but certainly a wonderful change from a typical bourbon. Sweet taste and aroma, with hints of caramel and fruit. Surprisingly enjoyable!
 
Bud
Bud,
Tastes like the old fashioned already mixed.
 
Caleb
Caleb,
Very fruity, not my favorite but still solid!
 
Joe
Joe,
this taste and smells more like an anejo tequila. Terrible bourbon. I gave it 2 stars just because there is well liquor that's worse but cmon
 
Ivan
Ivan,
A great whiskey if you like it spicy.
 
Praveen
Praveen,
Like a NYC taxicab pinetree air freshener but with a nice caramel and vanilla mouthfeel with a slight spice finish. Over-priced.
 
Angel
Angel,
wasn't horrific, harsh nose, tasted like cardboard.
 
Andrew
Andrew,
The complexities are aparent, slightly spicy and herbal, however the finish is so sweet it sends a shiver down my spine. Did not enjoy, I am sorry to say.
 
Jim
Jim,
Exceptional start and finish, complex, great whiskey. Cinnamon stands out in just the right way.
 
Dan
Dan,
Super good
 
David
David,
Hate the nose, really! Hate it. But the flavor is quite different. Not my favorite flavor profile but worth trying if you like a complex bourbon.
 
Kenji
Kenji,
Starts off medicinal and herbal. But balanced by the sweet and spicy finish. The balance makes it great.
 
Matthew
Matthew,
There's something oddly reminiscent of tequila dominating the nose and it's also present in the palette. Sweet cardboard. Displeased.
 
Bill
Bill,
Has a nice kick and good mellow flavor
 
Ryan
Ryan,
Very caramel forward. Almost the flavor of one of those old-time hard caramels on the front, a bit of a medium kick on the finish. Probably would be outstanding as a mixer due to it's easy, warm, pleasant drinkability.
 
Ben
Ben,
Lovely buttery caramel
 
David
David,
Spicy and fun to drink
 
William
William,
Its a pie in a glass. Something different but very sweet.
 
Nathan
Nathan,
Very unique flavors, good combination
 
Jeff
Jeff,
A little bit of a bite, but overall decent.
 
Steve
Steve,
Smooth really liked this caramel hit for sure the peach was not as noticeable as I would have thought. I would purchase this bottle really nice over rocks.
 
Chris
Chris,
Spicy finish
 
Nicholas
Nicholas,
My wife really liked it, she said it tastes like a dusty closet in a good way.
 
Wes
Wes,
Very smooth with a sweet taste
 
Jason
Jason,
A lot like Basil Hayden Rye. Its good
 
Raymond
Raymond,
2nd place in our tasting
 
Skyler
Skyler,
Smooth, Smokey for sure but the smell of caramel was right on the top good on rocks.
 
Corey
Corey,
Sweet, a little smoky all around a great whiskey.
 
Rob
Rob,
I drank it on the rocks. Good and smooth. Definitely got the black pepper. Would drink again for sure!
 
Austin
Austin,
Wonderfully different! A ton of different levels of flavor. Great neat sipping pour.
 
Dana
Dana,
Glad to have tasted it but don't need it for my liquor cabinet. Has some depth--oaky, varnish, fruit cake?
 
Susan
Susan,
peppery and spicy, apple, fruity, dried fruit, fruit cakey, nail polish remover, initial smell that’s hard to place (it’s peach!); tingle, oaky?, grainy; would not buy
 
Nicole
Nicole,
Very different flavor then anything I’m used too. Not in a bad way....just different.
 
Phillip
Phillip,
This was garbage. The liquor is straight booty. This is the worst one and worst liquor I ever tasted.
 
Stephanie
Stephanie,
Disappointed
 
Alex
Alex,
Wonderfully smooth, Doesn’t taste as potent as it is! It’s the night before thanksgiving, so it wonderfully embodies the flavors of the season! The caramel and subtle spiciness makes it a splendid whisky for the outdoors, camping, and by the fire.
 
Philip
Philip,
Tastes like my child made tea from soaking barley and grass in hot water, and now I’m stuck at this stupid whiskey gangs of New York tea party sipping a teacup of disappointment. I taste grass, smokiness, and a flavor like a the liquid you could squeeze out of a green tree branch from the back yard. If it wasn’t for the burn, I wouldn’t know I was drinking bourbon. The smell was sweet with a hint of cranberry. So that was okay.
 
Jay
Jay,
Initially hit with peach, then straight to pepper. Not horrible, but I wouldn’t pay the high price.
 
Brayden
Brayden,
Definitely tasted the caramel, but a little to spicy
 
John
John,
Like the caramel and butterscotch and the light touch of peach. However, the shift to strong pepper is a little harsh for me. I like it, but not sure it’s worth the higher cost.
 
Chris
Chris,
Easy to drink (on the rocks), not overly sweet but I prefer bourbon for sure. Had in tasting advent box, will be getting a bottle at some point.
 
Eric
Eric,
Terrible!!
 
STEPHEN
STEPHEN,
This tastes like a warm blanket and a good book
 
Heather
Heather,
Enjoyed it
 
Lauren
Lauren,
It’s just okay, drinks best on the rocks.
 
Jody
Jody,
Not very good...really bizarre taste for my palate.
 
Mark
Mark,
Very smooth with a nice combination of Caramel, peach and vanilla, slight black pepper and spicy flavors.
 
Dan
Dan,
Found the nose to be sickeningly sweet and the finish too spicy.
 
Andrew
Andrew,
peach + spice
 
guest
guest,
Smooth
 
Matthew
Matthew,
young fresh oak
 
Lee
Lee,
Smells good (woody on the nose). Piney, wood resin. Harsh American whiskey. Would order for myself.
 
Jeff
Jeff,
Oddly dank nose. Lots of spice and cinnamon up front, then mild sweetness and smoke. Too much like a hot toddy. Agree it might be better with Coke
 
Daniel
Daniel,
Aroma: Sweet campfire with a vanilla and candy caramel quality. Taste: heavy campfire like smokiness, a medium spiciness. On ice:. Creamy campfire, light spice. It's alright, might work great mixed.
 
Todd
Todd,
Not one of my favorites. Definitely get caramel, but not something I need again.
 
Jim
Jim,
Nice sipper good flavor
 
Mark
Mark,
Too much pepper taste with awkward peach taste. Not my favorite bourbon out there.
 
John
John,
The spice is beating out the caramel. Not bad but a little to much.
 
Liz
Liz,
This had an almost metallic start and a super spicy, rye like, finish.
 
Timothy
Timothy,
Not a fan at all. This tastes like paint smells.
 
Burton
Burton,
I tried this blind, and it was quite surprising. The smell was mild but the taste was powerful. I first thought it was a Texas bourbon with its strong cask influence. Some nice light fruit and vanilla. A truly unique dram if you are looking for something that breaks the mold.
 
Victor
Victor,
Didn’t care for it.
 
Angela
Angela,
Cookie nose, a little burn that goes away with ice.
 
Zachary
Zachary,
Nutty caramel delicious. Will get again
 
Benjamin
Benjamin,
Not a fan. Pretty harsh and a kind of soapy initial taste. I unfortunately didn’t find it worth drinking.
 
Ryan
Ryan,
Pretty classic bourbon profile with caramel, vanilla, and woody notes. A bit too much bite going down
 
Stephen
Stephen,
Far too sweet, with a rough palette all around. Not my speed at all.
 
Stefanie
Stefanie,
For once something is too spicy for me. All I get is hot caramel and that grain alcohol taste. Smells lovely though, that warm spicy bourbon smell.
 
Michael
Michael,
Love it
 
Jonathan
Jonathan,
Smells like caramel and butter, and has a sharp pepper on the tongue. I put it over rocks and it was delicious.
 
Matthew
Matthew,
Color is dark honey. Nose starts with a little youth from the corn. Beneath that lies vanilla and caramel. The youth covers a lot of the other possible smells. First sip is oak and caramel, with a hint of black pepper. Some fruits follow that, as well as some vanilla. Mouthfeel is moderately viscous. Finish however has that immature corn, though not as potent as the nose. The immaturity doesn't completely ruin it, but definitely detracts from an otherwise quite sippable Bourbon. Definitely would not pay asking price for this.
 
Matt
Matt,
Corn and apricot nose. Rich, heavy mouthfeel. Notes of cooked meats and fruit. A complex and interesting bourbon.
 
Craig
Craig,
To say "interesting" is to damn with faint praise. But for the life of me I couldn't place the forward flavor here, other than...unusual. The Flavor Wheel, FWIW, finds peach, and that may explain why I found this "tasty but utterly unexpected." The all-knowing Wheel also finds "bonfire," which sounds way cooler than anything this guy's palate can detect. At a proper whiskey hall I'd order one and ask my companion or cheerful stranger to try it just for sport. Buy a bottle? No.
 
Antti
Antti,
It is a very good, oaky, Straight Bourbon Whiskey which has a bold birth; while an intense life leads to a long & oaky death with notes of grain, almond & spice.
 
Mike
Mike,
Best of the sampler. Cleaner, sweeter finish. No chemical aftertastes. Would buy again.
 
Shannon
Shannon,
Favorite out of the box.
 
Lane
Lane,
Strong bonfire woody flavor. Usually like but not this one
 
Brian
Brian,
Not my taste.
 
Jose
Jose,
Not bad .. spicy yet oaky not bad at all
 
Holly
Holly,
So smooth and sweet finish
 
Rachel
Rachel,
Carmel and black pepper are nice it has, good strong fist then smooths out
 
Luis
Luis,
It’s going to leave an impression - it’s harsh, and unapologetic. Hints of caramel and vanilla from your more balanced bourbons exist, but the enduring quality is that of charcoal and brunt oak... which isn’t a bad thing. Surprisingly delicious, but not for the faint of heat (or taste)!
 
Amy
Amy,
Not my cup of tea, harsh, eye watering
 
Andrew
Andrew,
A bourbon that feels like a brandy. The nose is harsh and it's a thick caramel in the palate. Paired nicely with milk chocolate but I'm having trouble finding a $79/bottle sip on this one.
 
Greg
Greg,
Yikes! This is not for me! Not even sure how to describe the taste. Smells bad and it's uncomfortable on the tongue. Very earthy I guess I'd call it.
 
Patrick
Patrick,
ok start, but the grassy finish wasn't for me
 
Allison
Allison,
Not a fan of peach and black pepper mix
 
Paul
Paul,
Very enjoyable; delicious butterscotch nose and Carmel flavor; drinks easy, thin mouthfeel, too much wheat/smoke flavor, and short finish though make it seem a bit immature, but very easy sippin.
 
Austin
Austin,
Caramel nose, spicy body, and floral-sweet finish
 
Jeffry
Jeffry,
Sweet start and woody finish. Nice unique flavor profile, gives you a warm feeling. Not sure if it’s worth the price though
 
Gregory
Gregory,
Mmmm, oaky
 
James
James,
A little too overpowering my my palette. Nice long finish though.
 
Terri
Terri,
smooth . Wanted a little more complexity, but good, simple bourbon.
 
Matt
Matt,
So I don’t upset people that really like this... this is my opinion and it helps my own personal flavor profile get tighter for future recommendations. This whiskey is more like whisky to me. Spelling is the key. I taste the woody/smoky more than I had hoped. Actually pretty smooth though! I like the caramel and peach but just not strong enough to overcome that scotch flavor. Wouldn’t make my home bar but wouldn’t deny if offered... just my opinion on my taste as it compares to bourbons available. Cheers!
 
Andrew
Andrew,
Strong taste. Smooth.
 
Jeff
Jeff,
A distinct taste of burnt rubber...did not enjoy
 
Charles
Charles,
Smells woody, and soft. Tastes dry and woody like a bonfire. Went down smooth, but I didn't like it much.
 
chris
chris,
no burn, great woody taste and smell.
 
Thomas
Thomas,
Very smooth with NO burn. slightly sweet with a mild spice finish
 
Scott
Scott,
Spice with sweet
 
Oliver
Oliver,
Smells great. Tastes weird
 
Erik
Erik,
The first thing that hit me was the aroma -- like opening a new box of sneakers! Learning slowly that I am not a big fan of the wheated Bourbons, and should stay closer to my comfort zone. It is SMOOTH, very drinkable neat in a chilled snifter, and has a clean finish that eases off quickly. Curious to see how it fits in my next Manhattan.
 
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