Cooper And Thief Bourbon Barrel Red Blend

Cooper and Thief

Cooper and Thief Bourbon Barrel wine is popping up in many wine stores across America. It’s the new kid on the block for the masses “born from mischief,” so we decided to give it a taste test.

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What Makes It So Popular?

Marketing/Branding is one of the biggest reasons why Cooper and Thief Bourbon Barrel wine has snagged many wine fans.

For example, the bottle itself is not your normal thin wine bottle, along with the label. It all actually looks like a craft small-batch bourbon bottle instead of red wine.

And it’s quite genius, really, because it stands out from many other wine bottles. Not to mention, this bourbon barrel aged red blend does in fact age in bourbon whiskey barrels for at least 3 months!

cooper and thief red blend

Barrel aging is not a new technique in winemaking. But Bourbon barrel-aged wines have become more popular recently since they started in 2014 because they offer something unique and different in the palate.

And more importantly, wines aged in bourbon barrels are said to introduce other taste profiles in wine such as:

  • Caramel
  • Maple
  • Brown sugar
  • Vanilla
  • Sweet spice flavors
  • and allegedly, a subtle bourbon character.

They also feature an increase in richness and, at times, alcohol too.

However, some people won’t notice the difference between bourbon barrel-aged vs. standard oak barrel-aged in their glass of wine. However, you will find that costs are normally slightly higher for bourbon barrel-aged wines.

In short, I believe the superb marketing/branding is a huge help that made Cooper and Thief Red Blend wine so popular. But also thanks to it being a solid tasting wine for the masses.

Quick Facts About Cooper & Thief Bourbon Barrel

cooper and thief
  • Another mainstream, popular California red wine from Lodi, CA.
  • Owned by Constellation Brands, a NY based wine company that’s also behind wine brands like Arbor Mist, Clos du Bois, Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi, and Meiomi
  • Cooper and Thief is a bourbon barrel-aged for 3 months
  • According to law, bourbon barrels need to be 100 percent new American oak and heavily charred, there is an excellent amount of flavor remaining in the wood. Therefore, normally, bourbon barrel-aged wine limits barrel-aging time to a month or two.  
  • Cooper And Thief Red Blend consists of 38% Merlot, 37% Syrah, 11% Zinfandel, 7% Petite Syrah, 4% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% other reds
  • Alcohol: 17% (relatively high for red wine)

Tasting Notes for Cooper And Thief Bourbon Barrel Aged Red Wine Blend

dark red wine garners red wine blend stored

A smooth, dark and jammy wine filled with flavors of vanilla, oak, and chocolate with soft tannins. 

Cooper And Thief Bourbon Barrel Review

Cooper and Thief Bourbon Barrel Red Blend
BUY NOW VIVINO

Firstly, I truly appreciate Cooper and Thief’s marketing and branding job for this one. From the bottle shape, the look of the label, and their name.

While I don’t consider myself a bourbon expert, I do like and drink bourbon often. And with that being said, I didn’t notice any bourbon flavors that were different from oak barrel-aged wines.

And if you are wine aficionado, you’ll probably think of this dark red wine as too sweet. But then again, most wines that are mass-produced would be too sweet for you.

Overall, I’d say that this one is a good wine that will appeal to many wine drinkers, as shown in their 4.1 Vivino rating with over 23K reviews.

It’s approachable, affordable, and accessible.

And you should be able to buy this red wine for around $20 to $25.

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