Copper Fiddle Distillery

Overview of the Distillery

Copper Fiddle Distillery in Lake Zurich is both a small distillery and a cocktail bar, presenting Midwest-inspired spirits. The site produces three bourbons based on Midwest corn and toasted oak, several rye expressions, as well as a selection of gins, rum, and a vodka. Visitors experience the production through guided tours and tasting flights in a lively venue with frequent live music.

Raw Materials and Production

Production at Copper Fiddle is focused on expressions with Midwest roots, where corn and rye are involved in grain-based spirits. The bourbons are built on Midwest corn and worked with toasted oak as a central maturation component. The distillery also produces rye expressions and offers three different gin varieties, including a barrel-aged Tom Gin as well as a spicy serrano pepper-infused gin. The range includes single barrel bottles and cask strength releases, and tastings are facilitated by master distillers and mixologists in the cocktail bar's tasting lab.

Maturation and Barrel Types

Maturation at Copper Fiddle centers on the use of oak, particularly toasted oak for the bourbons. The distillery works with both standard barrel aging and separate single barrel bottlings as well as cask strength releases. Barrel aging is also used as a method to give the gins different nuances, for example in their Barrel Aged Tom Gin.

Whisky(s)

The range consists of eight signature spirits, spread across three bourbons, two rye expressions, three gins, a gold and a silver rum, and a vodka. The products are presented both as standard spirits in tasting setups and as more exclusive expressions in the premium whiskey flight. The range extends from the house signature 'oaky' bourbon to single barrel and cask strength variants, as well as experimental gin expressions.

Whisky	Type / Series	Cask and Style	Flavor Profile	Status
Fiddle Bourbon	Bourbon	Toasted oak barrels	One of the house bourbon offerings, highlighted in the distillery's premium whiskey flight and built on Midwest corn and toasted oak.	Current; Core range
Fiddle Rye	Rye	Oak barrels	A rye expression placed among the distillery's core spirits with corn as part of the raw material profile.	Current; Core range
Straight Single Barrel Bourbon	Bourbon	Single barrel (oak)	Single barrel release mentioned as part of the premium whiskey flight, presenting selected bourbon barrels.	Current
Cask Strength Straight Bourbon	Bourbon	Cask strength (oak)	Cask strength edition listed in the premium whiskey flight as an expression in the house bourbon series.	Current
Our Signature, Award Winning Oaky Bourbon Whiskey	Bourbon	Toasted oak barrels	The house signature bourbon, highlighted as 'oaky' and described as award-winning in the presentation of spirits.	Current; Core range
The Dark And Smooth Illinois Corn Rye Whiskey	Rye	Oak barrels	An Illinois corn-rye whiskey expression presented as dark and smooth in the distillery's tastings.	Current

Whisky Style and Flavor Profile

The prevailing flavor directions include toasted oak in the bourbons, a clean floral profile in one of the gins, and a spicy serrano pepper character in another gin. The rum varieties are described with banana-like and tropical vanilla elements, while the vodka is described as 'velvet smooth.' These different directions are reflected in the distillery's tasting concept.

Visiting the Distillery

Visits to Copper Fiddle take place in the cocktail bar's tasting lab, where guided tours are now held on Saturdays and Sundays and last about an hour. Guests can choose between composing their own flight, trying a collection flight with all eight spirits, or taking the premium whiskey flight with focused bourbon and rye samples. After the tour, a discount on bottle purchases is often offered, and the venue is active with live music and private events.

Philosophy and Craft

Copper Fiddle intentionally works with a Midwest identity and emphasizes craftsmanship in ingredient selection and maturation. From recipes based on Midwest corn to the use of toasted oak and barrel aging, the house demonstrates an approach that blends classic American spirit traditions with experimental expressions and a clear focus on the guest experience.