Copper & Cask Wave That Flag 9-year Double Oak Bourbon

Independent bottlings often walk a tightrope between brilliant and bizarre. Copper & Cask just decided to sprint across it. Their Wave That Flag release grabs a well-aged nine-year bourbon and thrusts it into New Wave Stave barrels for a secondary finishing process. Messing with an already mature spirit presents a massive risk. But those grooved staves drastically increase the wood contact, turning a traditional pour into a dark, molasses-heavy powerhouse. It takes real conviction to push a nine-year barrel this far without over-oaking it. Here, the gamble pays off handsomely.

The secret lies in the extra surface area of those toasted wave staves. They strip away any lingering harshness while injecting a ridiculous amount of caramelized sugar and espresso depth right into the whiskey. This entirely lacks standard vanilla-forward predictability. Instead, expect a wildly complex profile packed with pipe tobacco and dark maple syrup that coats your glass—and your palate—with unapologetic weight. It drinks loud. It commands attention.

• Matured for nine full years before an intense wave stave finishing process
• Bottled at a robust 117 proof to preserve its heavy, viscous texture
• A masterclass in secondary oak maturation from the blenders at Latitude Beverage

Nose: Dense cocoa powder collides with burnt sugar and flamed orange peel, creating a heavy, brooding aroma.

Palate: Viscous and unapologetically rich. Crème brûlée and dark vanilla cola hit the tongue first, quickly yielding to darker elements of espresso bean and sticky molasses.

Finish: Lingering notes of pipe tobacco and praline stretch out indefinitely, anchored by a deep maple syrup sweetness that refuses to quit.

Pair this heavy-hitting bourbon with a charred ribeye or a slice of dark chocolate torte. The whiskey’s intense molasses and espresso notes slice right through rich, fatty cuts of meat. Keep the seasoning simple. Let the robust barrel char do the heavy lifting for your palate.