Skip to main content

Copperworks Distilling Co. is releasing two expressions finished in St. George Apple Brandy casks

By Christopher Osburn Published February 11, 2026

Whiskey glass — istock/GMVozd

Fans of unique barrel finishing will enjoy the two new expressions from Copperworks Distilling. The Seattle-based brand is releasing two special releases: Copperworks St. George Spirits Apple Brandy Cask Gin and Copperworks St. George Spirits Apple Brandy Cask Finished Whiskey.

Copperworks St. George Spirits Apple Brandy Cask Finished expressions

Both will be available this month, with the gin currently available and the Copperworks Whiskey Club Exclusive whiskey available to members beginning on February 23rd.

Recommended Videos

Copperworks St. George Apple Brandy Cask Gin isn’t your average gin. It was finished in a St. George Apple Brandy cask for one year and five months. According to the distillery, it features notes of cedar, crisp apples, juniper, apple butter, candied orange peels, sandalwood, clove, lemon, and fruit leather.

Copperworks St. George Spirits Apple Brandy Cask Finished Whiskey is made from pale malt and is matured for six years and five months in refilled Copperworks casks before finishing for one year and seven months in St. George Apple Brandy casks. According to the brand, the result is a multi-layered whiskey filled with flavors like honeysuckle, apple blossom, buttered cinnamon toast, pound cake, apples, caramelized pineapple, barley tea, tobacco, and cedar.

“It feels like we’ve known Head Distiller Dave Smith and Master Distiller Lance Winters forever, forging a friendship over innumerable encounters at conventions, expos, and hosting them at our distillery in Seattle,” Copperworks President and Co-Founder Jason Parker says.

“Having the opportunity to explore the possibilities of these two California Reserve Apple Brandy casks has been wonderful.”

Where can I buy them?

Copperworks St. George Apple Brandy Cask Gin is currently available at the distillery’s tasting rooms in Seattle and Kenmore for the suggested retail price of $49.99. Copperworks St. George Spirits Apple Brandy Cask Finished Whiskey will be available on February 23, 2026, exclusively to Whiskey Club Members for the suggested retail price of $89.99.

Christopher Osburn

Writer

Christopher Osburn is a food and drinks writer located in the Finger Lakes Region of New York. He's been writing professional

Topics

Liquor, Beer, Wine & Drinks

Food & Drink

The best beers from California you can buy anywhere

California is more than just IPAs

Sierra Nevada

Currently, more than 9,000 breweries of all sizes operate in the US. That’s an awful lot of IPAs, stouts, and lagers to choose from. Some states are more saturated with breweries (per capita) than others. This includes places like Vermont, Colorado, Maine, Oregon, and, of course, California. While I could take a deep dive into all the biggest beer-producing states, today is all about The Golden State.

I have a special affinity for California beer, and it’s because of one style in particular. Sure, you can find a beer style to fit every palate in the state, but in California, the IPA reigns supreme. In fact, if you look at almost any list ranking the best beers in the state, it will be littered with IPA options. While I often imbibe pilsners and other lagers (as well as wheat beers and other lighter beers) in the summer as well as stouts and porters (and other dark beers) in the winter, I always go back to the classic West Coast IPA.

Food & Drink

Blue Bottle just proved California can grow world-class coffee

Blue Bottle Coffee just dropped a super rare California-grown coffee

Blue Bottle Coffee

Coffee has always had its origins story – Ethiopia, Colombia, Panama. But California was never part of that conversation, until now. Coffee leader, Blue Bottle, has just launched the California Frinj San Diego Gesha, a washed Gesha grown in San Diego and Santa Barbara counties in partnership with Frinj Coffee, the pioneering network behind California's emerging coffee movement. Gesha is widely regarded as one of the most prized varietals in specialty coffee, known for its delicate floral complexity and fruit-forward character – and this one delivers jasmine, peach, and strawberry in a cup.

Up until now, many coffee brands would shy away from growing specialty-grade coffee in California, as it requires years of experimentation and innovation. For the past two decades, Jay Ruskey, founder of Frinj Coffee, has helped pioneer California coffee product through continual experimentation with innovative growing practices, coffee varieties, and post-harvest processing. Now, this exciting new launch finally reflects that work. Cherries from two California farms were processed at Frinj's wet mill in Ventura, using carefully controlled fermentation to result in an exceptionally clean cup of coffee. This new variety showcases the signature floral aromatics and bright fruit character of the Gesha variety.

Food & Drink

Dark rums for whiskey fans

These rums are a great choice for whiskey drinkers

rum bottles

There’s no disputing the appeal of whisk(e)y. Whether it's single malt Scotch whisky, bourbon, rye whiskey, Irish whiskey, or others. There’s something special about this barrel-aged spirit. But it’s not the only aged spirit, and if you’re limiting your sipping to this style, you’re missing out on some other special, flavorful spirit. Especially dark rum.

I’ve spent years imbibing the various forms of whiskey. But every now and then, I branch out and pour myself a glass of dark rum instead. Unsurprisingly, the two spirits have some of the same aromas and flavors. Since both are matured in wood barrels, they impart flavors like caramel, vanilla, dried fruits, and oak (among others). If you don’t already, you should branch out and add dark rum to your aged spirits rotation.