Issue 109 · July 13, 2026
The Copper Thread Unravels
Theme: Heat Shapes Memory
Issue #109 traces how heat — whether from flame, climate, or cask — transforms raw material into something unforgettable, threading through eight bottles that wear their thermal histories on their palates.
Every bottle carries a thermal biography. The kiln that toasted the malt, the sun that baked the agave field, the cooper's fire that charred the staves — each application of heat leaves a signature that no amount of time can fully erase. This issue follows that thread, pulling it through eight spirits and wines where temperature is not just a variable but a co-author.
From a bourbon shaped by Kentucky's brutal summers to a white wine that owes its tension to cool volcanic soils, today's selections reveal how heat — applied, withheld, or endured — determines what ends up in your glass. Pay attention to the char, the toast, the warmth that lingers on the finish. The copper thread is there if you follow it.
Today's aroma training focuses on the signatures heat leaves behind — char, toast, smoke, and caramel. These thermal markers appear across every category in this issue, from bourbon's charred oak to Scotch's peat smoke to wine's toasted barrel influence.
Don’t see your special bottle? Request a review at reviews.schoolofwineandspirits.com/request-review — we’ll get to it. See every bottle we’ve reviewed to date at reviews.schoolofwineandspirits.com.
Bourbon Kentucky Owl The Wiseman Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Revived by the Stoli Group from a dormant Kentucky legacy, Kentucky Owl's Wiseman expression blends sourced bourbon with increasing amounts of their own distillate from the new Bardstown facility.
Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Brand: Kentucky Owl
Distillery: Kentucky Owl Distillery
Proof: 90.8 (45.4% ABV)
Age: NAS
Color: Burnished copper with amber edges
MSRP: $50–$65
Mash Bill: Corn, Rye, Malted Barley (exact proportions undisclosed)
Barrel Type: New charred American white oak (Level 4 char)
Nose: Opens with a rush of caramel corn and toasted vanilla, followed by dried orange peel and a subtle thread of charred oak. Given a few minutes, brown baking spices emerge alongside faint leather.
Palate: Medium-bodied and approachable, with butterscotch leading into baked apple and a core of sweet corn. Mid-palate brings oak tannins and a lick of dark cocoa that adds complexity without bitterness.
Finish: Medium length, fading through charred oak and lingering caramel warmth with a last whisper of rye spice.
Cocktail — Scorched Orchard — 2 oz Kentucky Owl Wiseman · 0.75 oz apple cider syrup · 0.5 oz lemon juice · 2 dashes Angostura bitters · Shake with ice, strain into a coupe, garnish with a torched apple slice.
Pair with: Smoked pork belly bites with a maple-mustard glaze, served alongside pickled red onion. The sweet fat echoes the bourbon's butterscotch while the tang cuts through richness.
Awards: 2023 San Francisco World Spirits Competition Gold
Scotch Whisky Ardmore 20 Year Old 1996 Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Built in 1898 to supply Teacher's blends, Ardmore remains one of the few Highland distilleries committed to peated malt, with this 20-year-old expression released in limited quantities through independent bottlers.
Classification: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Brand: Ardmore
Distillery: Ardmore Distillery
Proof: 96.2 (48.1% ABV)
Age: 20 Year
Color: Deep gold with bronze reflections
MSRP: $150–$190
Region: Highland
Mash Bill: 100% Peated Malted Barley
Distillation: Double pot still distillation
Maturation: Ex-bourbon casks for 20 years
Cask Type: Ex-Bourbon
Peat Level (PPM): 12-14 ppm
Chill-Filtered: Non-chill filtered
Nose: Gentle peat smoke weaves through layers of heather honey, dried apricot, and warm vanilla. A secondary wave brings out toasted almonds and a faint floral sweetness reminiscent of rosewater.
Palate: Rich and layered, with malty cereal grains meeting smoked honey on the entry. The mid-palate opens into dried fruit, clove spice, and a waxy mouthfeel that coats the tongue. Oak influence is present but never dominant.
Finish: Long and warming, with lingering smoke, cocoa nibs, and a final note of orange marmalade.
Pair with: Smoked salmon rillettes with crème fraîche on oatcakes. The salmon's smoke mirrors the whisky's peat while the cream tempers the honey sweetness.
Irish Whiskey Boann The Whistler Marsala Cask Finish Single Pot Still
Built by the Cooney family beside the River Boyne, Boann is a rare independent Irish distillery producing genuine single pot still whiskey — sourcing much of its early stock while quietly laying down its own, and finishing selected casks in fortified wine barrels drawn from personal relationships with Sicilian producers.
Classification: Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey
Brand: The Whistler
Distillery: Boann Distillery
Proof: 94 proof (47% ABV)
Age: NAS
Color: Burnished amber with rose-gold highlights
MSRP: $75 USD
Mash Bill: Traditional single pot still mash of malted and unmalted Irish barley
Distillation: Triple distilled in copper pot stills
Maturation: Initial maturation in ex-bourbon casks, finished in first-fill Marsala casks sourced from Sicily
Chill-Filtered: Non-chill filtered
Nose: Sun-warmed raisins and fig jam lead, followed by roasted almonds, candied orange peel, and a whisper of clove. Underneath, the pot still cereal character asserts itself — porridge oats drizzled with dark honey.
Palate: Rich and oily. Marsala's oxidative sweetness translates as burnt sugar, dried apricot, and walnut skins. The mid-palate turns spicy: black pepper, cinnamon bark, and a green, grassy pot still snap that keeps the sweetness in check.
Finish: Long and warming, with lingering baked fig, cocoa nib, and a dry, tannic wood note that fades into toasted almond.
Cocktail — The Sirocco — 2 oz Boann Marsala Cask Single Pot Still, 0.5 oz dry Marsala, 0.25 oz honey syrup, 2 dashes orange bitters. Stir with ice, strain into a chilled coupe, express an orange peel over the surface and drop in.
Pair with: Aged pecorino with fig mostarda, or a slice of Sicilian cassata — anything where dried fruit and nut meet salted dairy.
Awards: Gold, Irish Whiskey Masters (Spirits Business); double gold recognition at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition for the Marsala Cask expression
Tequila Espolòn Añejo Tequila
Crafted by master distiller Cirilo Oropeza at NOM 1440 in Los Altos de Jalisco, Espolòn uses 100% blue Weber agave and wild yeast fermentation in open-air tanks before aging in lightly charred American oak.
Classification: Añejo Tequila
Brand: Espolòn
Distillery: Destiladora San Nicolás
Proof: 80 (40% ABV)
Age: NAS (aged up to 12 months)
Color: Warm amber with tawny edges
MSRP: $30–$40
Agave: 100% Blue Weber Agave (Los Altos de Jalisco)
Cooking Method: Tahona-crushed and roller mill, open-air fermentation with native yeast, aged in lightly charred new American oak barrels
NOM: NOM 1440
Nose: Cooked agave and caramel dominate the opening, followed by vanilla bean, toasted oak, and a subtle thread of dark chocolate. A background note of baking spices rounds things out.
Palate: Smooth entry with butterscotch and roasted agave, moving into dried fruit and cinnamon at the mid-palate. Oak presence is measured — it frames rather than overwhelms, letting the agave character stay central.
Finish: Medium, with lingering caramel, a touch of pepper heat, and a pleasant oakiness that fades cleanly.
Cocktail — Ember Old Fashioned — 2 oz Espolòn Añejo · 0.25 oz agave nectar · 3 dashes mole bitters · Stir with ice, strain over a large cube in a rocks glass, garnish with a flamed orange peel.
Pair with: Braised chicken thigh in mole negro with toasted sesame seeds and warm tortillas. The mole's chocolate and chili complexity mirrors the tequila's dark chocolate and pepper notes.
Gin Cotswolds Dry Gin
Founded in 2014 by former finance professional Dan Szor, Cotswolds Distillery uses a hand-peeled citrus method and extended maceration in a 500-liter copper pot still named Endeavour to extract bold, layered botanical character.
Classification: Dry Gin
Brand: Cotswolds
Distillery: Cotswolds Distillery
Proof: 92 (46% ABV)
Age: NAS
Color: Crystal clear with faint opalescence when chilled
MSRP: $35–$45
Style: Dry Gin
Botanicals: Juniper, coriander seed, angelica root, orris root, lavender, bay leaf, lime peel, grapefruit peel, black pepper
Base Spirit: Wheat-based neutral spirit
Distillation: Single-shot distillation in a 500-liter copper pot still
Nose: Bright and aromatic, leading with fresh juniper and lavender, followed by grapefruit zest and a warm wave of coriander. Beneath that sits a subtle orris root earthiness and a hint of black pepper.
Palate: Full-bodied for a gin, with waxy juniper giving way to citrus peel and a floral mid-palate of lavender and chamomile. The peppery spice builds gradually, providing structure without heat.
Finish: Medium-long, with lingering juniper and a dry, peppery close accented by faint angelica root.
Cocktail — Lavender Collins — 2 oz Cotswolds Dry Gin · 0.75 oz lemon juice · 0.5 oz lavender-honey syrup · 3 oz soda water · Shake gin, lemon, and syrup with ice, strain into a Collins glass over fresh ice, top with soda, garnish with a lavender sprig.
Pair with: Crostini topped with whipped goat cheese, fresh thyme, and a drizzle of wildflower honey. The herbal and floral notes of the cheese echo the gin's lavender and juniper.
Awards: IWSC 2022 Gold Outstanding
Rum Savanna Rhum Vieux Traditionnel 5 Year Old
Founded in 1870 on the slopes of Réunion's Piton des Neiges volcano, Distillerie Savanna is one of the last producers crafting rum from three distinct traditions — traditionnel, agricole, and the funk-laden grand arôme — all shaped by the island's relentless equatorial heat.
Classification: Aged Traditional Rhum (Molasses-Based)
Brand: Savanna
Distillery: Distillerie Savanna
Proof: 86 proof (43% ABV)
Age: 5 Year Old
Color: Deep amber with copper reflections
MSRP: $60 - $75
Base Ingredients: Sugarcane molasses from Réunion Island
Distillation: Column still distillation, aged 5 years in ex-Cognac and French oak casks under tropical maturation conditions
Nose: Warm brown butter and roasted pineapple lead, followed by pipe tobacco, cocoa nibs, and a whisper of overripe banana. A gentle waft of leather and sun-warmed oak grounds the fruit.
Palate: Silky and medium-bodied, delivering toffee, candied orange peel, and baked apricot. Mid-palate reveals espresso grounds, dark honey, and a distinct volcanic minerality — a dry, ashy edge that sets Réunion apart.
Finish: Long and gently smoky, with lingering cocoa, dried fig, and a warm cinnamon-clove note that fades into oak tannin.
Cocktail — Cinder & Cane — 2 oz Savanna Rhum Vieux Traditionnel 5 Year, 0.75 oz fresh lime juice, 0.5 oz demerara syrup, 0.25 oz Amaro Nonino, 2 dashes Angostura bitters. Shake with ice, strain into a chilled coupe, express an orange peel over the top and discard.
Pair with: Grilled pineapple with black pepper and dark chocolate ganache, or a slice of dense flourless espresso torte.
Awards: Multiple gold medals at the Rhum Fest Paris and consistent recognition in the Madrid International Rum Conference.
Red Wine Telmo Rodríguez Lanzaga Rioja 2019
Telmo Rodríguez, trained in Bordeaux and Burgundy, returned to Spain's Rioja Alavesa to rehabilitate abandoned old-vine plots around the village of Lanciego, farming organically and vinifying with minimal intervention.
Classification: Rioja DOCa
Brand: Compañía de Vinos Telmo Rodríguez
ABV: 14%
Primary Varietal: Tempranillo
Blend: Tempranillo, Graciano, Garnacha
Vineyards: Old vines (60+ years) in Lanciego, Rioja Alavesa
Maturation: Hand-harvested, whole-cluster fermentation, indigenous yeasts, gentle extraction
Color: Deep garnet with ruby rim
MSRP: $40 - $50
Nose: Dark cherry and dried violets open the nose, followed by cedar, toasted spice, and a subtle gamey, almost meaty quality. A background note of green herbs adds freshness.
Palate: Medium-to-full bodied with fine-grained tannins. Blackcurrant and cherry fruit dominate, supported by vanilla from oak aging and a mineral undertow. The mid-palate delivers a savory turn — dried herbs, leather, and a hint of smoke.
Finish: Long and structured, with cedar, dried cherry, and a whisper of violet persisting through a clean, tannic close.
Pair with: Grilled lamb chops served with smoky romesco sauce and roasted piquillo peppers. The lamb's char and fat mirror the wine's gamey notes and tannin structure, while romesco bridges the cherry fruit.
White Wine Domaine Valette Mâcon-Chaintré Vieilles Vignes 2022
Gérard Valette has worked his family's old-vine plots in Chaintré since the 1990s, farming biodynamically and using extended lees aging to create age-worthy Mâconnais whites that rival the best of the Côte de Beaune.
Classification: Mâcon-Chaintré AOC
Brand: Domaine Valette
ABV: 13%
Primary Varietal: Chardonnay
Blend: 100% Chardonnay
Vineyards: Vieilles Vignes (50+ year old vines) in Chaintré, limestone-clay soils
Vinification: Hand-harvested, whole-cluster pressed, indigenous yeast fermentation in older French oak barrels, extended lees aging without batonnage
Color: Pale gold with green-gold reflections
MSRP: $30–$45
Nose: Opens with ripe green apple and white peach, followed by toasted almond and a gentle honeyed richness. A subtle mineral note — crushed limestone — sits beneath the fruit, adding tension.
Palate: Generous but not heavy, with citrus and melon on entry giving way to a buttery mid-palate and a core of marzipan-like nuttiness. Excellent acidity keeps everything taut and prevents the richness from becoming cloying.
Finish: Medium-long, with lingering citrus, a touch of woody spice, and a clean mineral close.
Pair with: Pan-roasted halibut with a classic beurre blanc sauce, served alongside haricots verts and crushed fingerling potatoes. The wine's buttery richness meets the sauce's unctuousness, while its acidity cuts through the fat.
Train Your Nose: Today's Aroma Spotlight
Today's aroma training focuses on the signatures heat leaves behind — char, toast, smoke, and caramel. These thermal markers appear across every category in this issue, from bourbon's charred oak to Scotch's peat smoke to wine's toasted barrel influence.
Each product in today's lineup connects to a specific aroma profile you can train with your kit. Whether it's the charred oak of the bourbon, the coastal brine of the scotch, or the agave earthiness of the tequila — your nose is the instrument. Use the kit references below to isolate each aroma before your next pour, then see if you catch it in the glass.
Today's Kit Reference
| Today's Product | Key Aromas | Train With |
|---|---|---|
| Kentucky Owl The Wiseman Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (Bourbon) | Caramel, Charred Oak, Butterscotch, Orange, Brown Spices | Bourbon Kit |
| Ardmore 20 Year Old 1996 Single Malt Scotch Whisky (Scotch Whisky) | Peaty, Honey, Dried Fruit, Smoky, Vanilla, Clove Spice | Whisky Kit |
| Boann The Whistler Marsala Cask Finish Single Pot Still (Irish Whiskey) | Dried Fruit, Almond, Caramel, Clove Spice, Malt, Orange | Whiskey Kit |
| Espolòn Añejo Tequila (Tequila) | Agave (Cooked), Caramel, Vanilla, Cinnamon, Oak | Tequila Kit |
| Cotswolds Dry Gin (Gin) | Juniper (Pine), Lavender, Grapefruit, Coriander, Peppery, Orris Root | Gin Kit |
| Savanna Rhum Vieux Traditionnel 5 Year Old (Rum) | Tobacco, Toffee, Tropical Fruits, Cask Aged, Chocolate, Dried Fruit | Rum Kit |
| Telmo Rodríguez Lanzaga Rioja 2019 (Red Wine) | Cherry, Violet, Cedar, Blackcurrant, Vanilla, Gamey | Wine Kit |
| Domaine Valette Mâcon-Chaintré Vieilles Vignes 2022 (White Wine) | Apple (Green), Honey, Melon, Marzipan, Citrus (Generic), Buttery | Wine Kit |
Explore the School of Wine and Spirits
Train your nose to recognize these heat-born aromas with the School of Wine and Spirits aroma kit, purpose-built to develop your sensory vocabulary bottle by bottle. Our Aroma Masterclass Kits are designed to teach it to you, one aroma at a time.
Our books on Amazon go deeper into the science and history behind every sip — from America's Spirit, Scotland's Spirit, Ireland's Spirit, The Ultimate Northern Italian Wine Journey, The Tequila y Mezcal Revolution, Chablis, and Côte d'Or pocket guides.
Explore our Aroma Masterclass kits and books at schoolofwineandspirits.com
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The copper thread runs through every glass — learn to follow it, and you'll never taste the same way again.
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Until tomorrow's pour — cheers.
Robert R. Mohr, CPA, CGMA, WSET Level 3, WSG Certified Spirits Specialist — author of America's Spirit, Scotland's Spirit, Ireland's Spirit, The Ultimate Northern Italian Wine Journey, The Tequila y Mezcal Revolution, The Definitive Pocket Guide to Chablis, The Definitive Pocket Guide to the Côte d'Or, and Strategic Tuning. Published author of the Aroma Academy Tequila/Mezcal and Distiller's training kits.
The Still & The Vine is a daily publication of the School of Wine and Spirits.
Kentucky Owl The Wiseman Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Kentucky Owl
The Wiseman delivers a well-constructed bourbon that punches above its price point. It balances sweetness and structure in a way that rewards both neat sipping and cocktail use. A reliable daily pour with enough depth to hold your attention.
Ardmore 20 Year Old 1996 Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Ardmore
Ardmore is the Highland's quiet peater, and at twenty years the smoke has integrated beautifully into a complex, honeyed framework. This is a thinking dram — one that rewards patience and reveals new dimensions across the session. An underappreciated distillery showing its full potential.
Espolòn Añejo Tequila
Espolòn
Espolòn's añejo over-delivers for its price. The oak influence adds depth without masking the agave, and the balance between sweet and spice makes it versatile across neat sipping and cocktail work. A smart entry point for anyone exploring aged tequilas.
Cotswolds Dry Gin
Cotswolds
Cotswolds delivers a classically structured gin with enough personality to stand on its own. The lavender is present but never perfumed, and the juniper backbone keeps everything anchored. It's a gin that makes a strong Martini and an even better Negroni.
Telmo Rodríguez Lanzaga Rioja 2019
Compañía de Vinos Telmo Rodríguez
Telmo Rodríguez applies a Burgundian sensibility to old-vine Rioja, and Lanzaga is the proof of concept. The 2019 is both modern and deeply traditional — fruit-forward enough to enjoy young, structured enough to cellar for a decade. This is Rioja as terroir statement.
Domaine Valette Mâcon-Chaintré Vieilles Vignes 2022
Domaine Valette
Domaine Valette's old-vine Chardonnay from Chaintré is one of the Mâconnais' best-kept secrets. The 2022 captures ripe fruit and textural richness while maintaining the nervous energy that separates great white Burgundy from merely good. At this price, it embarrasses bottles costing three times as much.
Boann The Whistler Marsala Cask Finish Single Pot Still
The Whistler
A confident, characterful pot still that uses Marsala not as makeup but as memory — the cask's sun-baked history bleeds into every sip. Among the most distinctive independent Irish releases of recent years.
Savanna Rhum Vieux Traditionnel 5 Year Old
Savanna
A quietly commanding rum that rewards patient sipping — Savanna's traditionnel style bridges the fruit-forward warmth of the Caribbean with an Indian Ocean earthiness that feels wholly its own.
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