LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Copper & Kings American Brandy Co. is opening up its spirits archives to consumers with the launch of a new quarterly bottle club featuring ultra-aged American brandies, rare cask finishes, specialty spirits and the return of the Louisville distillery’s absinthe.
The new Kings Bottle Club will give members access to some of Copper & Kings’ most limited inventory, with the first club-exclusive bottle scheduled for release in September.
Rather than offering a predetermined lineup of standard releases, Copper & Kings plans to hand-select a standout spirit from its barrel collection for each quarterly shipment.
Those selections could include older American brandies, unusual barrel finishes, new expressions and limited spirits pulled from the distillery’s archives.
“The Kings Bottle Club lets us share the most intriguing and limited spirits in our collection directly with those most passionate about Copper & Kings,” owner and CEO Rob Bourdon said. “Each quarterly release promises members something truly unique; be it a new expression, an exclusive bottling, or a rare find from our archives.”
Copper & Kings absinthe is coming back
One of the biggest draws for longtime Copper & Kings fans could be the return of the distillery’s absinthe.
The company says Kings Bottle Club members will receive access to returning Copper & Kings absinthe releases before they become available elsewhere. Select absinthe bottlings will be offered exclusively to members at the distillery.
Copper & Kings has built its reputation by taking an unconventional approach to American brandy, incorporating techniques and barrel programs more commonly associated with whiskey and other aged spirits.
Its Louisville inventory now includes what the company describes as one of the country’s most diverse barrel collections, giving the distillery considerable flexibility when developing limited releases for the club.
That could make the program particularly interesting for whiskey and bourbon drinkers who have become accustomed to chasing limited editions, single barrels and unusual finishes.
What Kings Bottle Club members receive
Membership costs $135 per quarter and requires an initial four-quarter commitment, putting the minimum first-year cost at $540 before any applicable shipping or other charges.
Each quarterly membership includes a specially selected bottle, but Copper & Kings is also adding experiences and purchasing privileges.
Members receive two complimentary distillery tours each year and a 10% year-round discount in the Copper & Kings gift shop.
Other benefits include access to member-only distillery offerings, early purchasing windows for select releases and a virtual tasting with Bourdon.
Members also will have opportunities to win a seat in Copper & Kings’ barrel-pick program, potentially providing a closer look at how individual barrels are evaluated and selected.
After the initial four quarterly shipments, memberships can be canceled before renewal. Memberships otherwise automatically renew annually.
Black wax distinguishes club bottles
Copper & Kings is also giving its club releases a visual distinction from bottles in its regular portfolio.
Every Kings Bottle Club selection will feature a hand-poured black wax seal reserved exclusively for club bottles.
For collectors, that detail could make the releases immediately identifiable as members-only expressions, particularly if the program develops a series of highly limited or one-time bottlings.
The company says additional membership benefits are planned as the club develops.
A different kind of bottle club for Kentucky spirits fans
Kentucky distilleries increasingly have looked beyond the traditional tasting room and gift shop to build deeper relationships with their most dedicated customers.
Bottle clubs, private selections and distillery-exclusive releases give producers a direct channel to enthusiasts while providing consumers with access to bottles that may never reach conventional retail distribution.
Copper & Kings’ approach brings that model into the American brandy category — while borrowing some of the scarcity, barrel-picking and limited-release excitement familiar to bourbon collectors.
And the promise of spirits pulled from the company’s archives may be the most intriguing part.
For a distillery known for experimentation with barrels, maturation and unconventional spirits, the Kings Bottle Club creates a place for Copper & Kings to release bottles that may be too limited or unusual for a broader commercial launch.
The first test arrives in September, when members find out what Copper & Kings has selected for its inaugural club-exclusive release.
