Okay, coffee lovers and whiskey enthusiasts, gather ’round! As someone who takes both their morning brew and evening dram pretty seriously, I just had to try Cooper’s Cask Coffee’s Bourbon Whiskey and Single-Malt Whiskey Barrel Aged Coffee Bundle. The idea? Genius, right? Coffee beans snuggling up in barrels that once held Kentucky bourbon and American single-malt. I mean, come on!
The whole barrel-aging thing is just so darn cool. Cooper’s Cask Coffee grabs single-origin beans – Colombian for the bourbon-aged, Sumatran for the whiskey-aged – and lets them chill in those recently emptied barrels. Apparently, this infuses the beans with the aromas and a hint of the spirits’ flavors. I’ve dabbled in barrel-aged cocktails myself, and trust me, wood can work wonders.
So, the beans arrived, and first impressions? Good. Simple packaging, but when I opened those bags, wow, the aromas were something else. The bourbon-aged beans had this sweet thing going on, with whispers of dark fruit and cocoa. The whiskey-aged? More earthy, a little woody, definitely intriguing.
Time for the taste test! I went for the bourbon-aged first. Followed Cooper’s Cask Coffee’s instructions: medium grind, two tablespoons per six ounces, brew for 4-5 minutes. Easy peasy, right? Wrong! Picture this: Me, buzzing with caffeine anticipation, slightly overfilling my French press. BOOM! Coffee explosion all over my kitchen. (Lesson learned: caffeine + excitement = potential mess).
But hey, even with the cleanup, the coffee was worth it. The bourbon? Subtle, yeah, but it was there, adding this lovely layer to the Colombian beans. Not boozy at all, just a gentle warmth that played nicely with the coffee’s natural flavors. I swear I tasted a hint of maple, and this pleasant sweetness that just hung around.
Next up, the Sumatra whiskey-aged. This one was bolder, more… assertive. Tropical fruit notes, a touch smoky. The whiskey was more upfront here, giving the cup a real depth.
Bottom line? Cooper’s Cask Coffee is onto something. These aren’t your everyday beans; they’re an experience. Perfect for a weekend treat, or that coffee-obsessed friend who has everything. Yeah, they’re pricier than your usual bag, but you can taste the quality.
The Good Stuff:
- Totally unique and delicious.
- Top-notch, single-origin beans.
- That barrel-aged thing? It works!
- Small-batch roasted, so they’re fresh.
The Not-So-Good Stuff:
- Might be too pricey for some.
- If you like really strong coffee, the subtle flavors might get lost.
Will I buy it again? You betcha. Even with the French press fiasco, it was worth it. Cooper’s Cask Coffee? You’ve earned a spot in my rotation for those “treat yo’self” moments. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go clean my kitchen… again.