Coopers' Craft Barrel Reserve 100 Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon

I’m reconfirming my four stars which is highly rated for me as I don’t rate many whiskeys this high. The fact that this is a $30 bottle makes me so happy it is in my estimation the best $30 and under which I would say now is budget level bottle on the market. When you pour it look at the color it is so dark. I know it’s non-age stated, but purportedly it’s around six years old to 7-ish and that chiseling method they use at Brown-Forman is definitely working on this bottle and not a gimmick if you’ve never been to Brown, foreman old Forrester’s tour, they do their own coopering and it’s a fun process to watch highly recommend if you go to Louisville on whiskey row. So much caramel, nice vanilla, and just a touch of spice to make an interesting on this hundred proof bourbon. This must be on your shelf and I see it sit on store shelves some people not picking it up and picking up basil Hayden instead that is sad. I’m not trying to be Judgey, but if the store employees would direct people towards this instead of some other product, I think it would be for the better. And frankly, the reviewer that gave it an 85 is way off base. I challenge anyone to put this in a blind with bottles up to 60 or $70 and I guarantee it will hold its own. One caveat. There is a lower proof version of this around mid 80s proof and it’s not near as good. It reminds me of old Forrester 86 when you get a ton of Vanilla And if that’s your thing, so be it but it’s much thinner and not spicy at all so I would steer clear and spend the extra seven or eight dollars for the hundred proof version. Kudos to Brown-Forman for putting out an excellent excellent bottle (Yes, I wrote excellent twice)

I love Brown-Forman for their unique ownership of a cooperage, and this chiseled and charred barrel treatment brings out some of my favorite BF notes—especially banana bread. This is an easy sipper at just $35, delivering a rich and warming experience without overwhelming heat. This pour killed my bottle, but I’ll be adding another one soon! Nose: Strong brown sugar, banana bread, and cereal grains. A backbone of toasty oak with a hint of spice. Palate: Sweet and buttery on the front. Oak tannins and baking spices add structure. That banana bread note lingers beautifully throughout. Finish: Medium to long, sits with you like a dear friend you haven’t seen in a while. Starts in the throat and radiates to the chest, leaving a warm, comforting embrace. Cooper’s Craft 100 Proof punches well above its price. The chiseled barrel finishing adds a unique depth, bringing out sweet, oaky, and spicy elements without overpowering the signature Brown-Forman banana note. Whether you’re a fan of Old Forester or Woodford Reserve, this bourbon offers a fresh but familiar experience. Absolutely worth a try!

Nose: Warm and inviting — toasted pecans lead the way, layered over sweet potato pie and well-seasoned oak. There’s a soft sweetness underneath that recalls brown sugar and a touch of vanilla cream. Palate: Nutty and full-bodied, with roasted pecans, chocolate, cinnamon, and firm oak tannins. The flavors feel rounded and toasty, showing just enough spice to balance the sweetness. Finish: Dandy and short, but pleasantly so — a flash of cocoa and oak gives way to a faint note of ripe banana, like the aftertaste of banana bread still warm from the oven. It’s a subtle twist that leaves a smooth, creamy impression. Overall: A well-crafted, toasty bourbon with a signature Brown-Forman nuttiness. The addition of banana on the finish adds a gentle echo of the distillery’s hallmark fruit character, making this a warm, approachable pour with quiet depth.

Color: Copper-Amber Nose: First pour — Classic Bourbon nose. Oak, sweet, slight alcohol. Second pour — cinnamon! Palate: First pour — Medium mouth feel; initial slight burn on the way down; spicy tingle intermingling with burnt sugar sweetness. Drinks smoother than its proof. Second pour — original spice transforms into a more specific spice of cloves or allspice(?). 11/17: Cherries! Finish: Short but pleasant with slight sweetness carrying over. This is not complex, but it's all I hoped it would be at this price point. It's very good and checks nearly every bourbon box for me. I bought this while on a trip to Virginia. It's not available in the Los Angeles area (all of CA?), as far as I can tell. So I will definitely buy again, whenever I find myself in a state where it is available.

Nose: Vanilla, cherry, oak Palate: Vanilla, hint of chocolate, hint of fruit (apple/pear) quickly moves to the finish Finish: Short with lots of char and baking spices Wow, the difference a higher proof makes... as well as the difference of specialized barrels. Unlike it's lower-proof sibling, Cooper Craft Reserve uses barrels with chiseled and charred staves, exposing more wood to the aging distillate. The result is indeed a more complex profile with a medium body/mouthfeel. As a big upgrade to what was originally a simple sipper, this expression of Coopers' Craft really shows off how the barrel can elevate a liquid.

I found this bourbon when I was looking for an Eagle Rare alternative. Eagle Rare is hard to find and this one kept coming up as one to check out. I swear, half the cost and I think that this bottle is better than Eagle Rare by a wide margin. It's got that complicated brown sugar, vanilla, and tobacco flavor and coupled it with a nice belly warming. I can't think of a bad thing to say about this. I think I may have found my new favorite.