Forty Creek Copper Bold
Copper Pot took a new name in 2022. Forty Creek Copper Bold is that same whisky from 2007, made with corn, rye, and barley aged separately and then matured for longer in oak. It is bottled at 43 percent alcohol.
Grimsby, Ontario, houses the distillery Otto Rieder opened in 1972 so he could distil tender fruit from the Niagara area. Campari Group has owned the company since 2014, and nothing on the site says which country grew the grain.
Deep copper is the colour. Toffee, nuts, and spice lead the aroma, while brown spice, dried stone fruit, and a hint of marmalade follow across the palate. Extra alcohol is there so the whisky still shows in a cocktail.
Product Highlights
- •Extra oak time beyond the three-grain Barrel Select method
- •Shop serve line is neat or over ice
- •2022 pack relaunch kept the whisky and changed the glass
- •Whisky Maker of the Decade at the 2020 Canadian Whisky Awards
- •Distillery talk calls the aroma vanilla and spice
- •No 375 ml shop option on this expression
Category
Our Canadian score
Some Canadian ties
Company’s own label claim: “Distilled and aged in Ontario, Canada”
Foreign owned, distilled in Ontario. Forty Creek Copper Bold is made in Grimsby, and the 2014 buyer was Campari Group. The old name was Copper Pot. Grain country is a gap, and the oak time runs longer than Barrel Select.
Score breakdown (64% evidenced, high confidence)
“Forty Creek was acquired by Campari Group, the world's 6th largest spirit holding group.”
This score is our own read of publicly available evidence, not a regulatory finding. It is not a CFIA or Competition Bureau origin determination, and it is not the same as the "Product of Canada" or "Made in Canada" claims a manufacturer prints on a label. Check the package if you need the official claim. How we score
Key Facts
- Made In
- Grimsby, Ontario
- Owned By
- Campari Group
- Trademark Holder
- Davide Campari N.V.
- Alcohol
- 43%
- Grains
- Corn, rye, barley
- Bottle Sizes
- 750 ml, 1140 ml, 1750 ml
- Price
- $36.75 to $74.00
- Former Name
- Copper Pot
- Renamed
- 2022
Where to Buy
Product Information
Ingredients
Corn, rye, barley
Warnings
- Confirm you are over 19 before buying.
- Age verification is mandatory for delivery, and a person of legal drinking age must sign.
Additional Details
- Renamed:2022
- Released:2007
- Expression:Copper Bold
- Price Note:Shop shows a range across bottle sizes. Ontario prices must match the LCBO.
- Former Name:Copper Pot
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Forty Creek Copper Bold made in Canada?
Yes. Forty Creek is distilled and aged in Ontario, and the gift page prints that claim. Davide Campari N.V. holds the trademark.
Is Copper Bold the same whisky as Copper Pot?
Yes. The 2007 release was Copper Pot. In 2022 the name became Copper Bold. Forty Creek Copper Bold is the same full bodied whisky, the shop says, with a higher proof than many other Canadian whiskies.
What extra flavour does the distillery video add?
Pecan. Bill Ashburn lists toffee, pecan, and a full layer of spice for Forty Creek Copper Bold. The shop page itself stops at toffee, nuts, spice, brown spice, stone fruit, and marmalade.
Does the Ontario shop ship Forty Creek Copper Bold?
Only inside Ontario. Forty Creek uses ICS and Canpar, and a person of legal drinking age has to sign. Under $149 the fee is $15. Free shipping applies above $149 before tax. Postal codes P0L and P0V are blocked.
Who blended Forty Creek Copper Bold?
Bill Ashburn did, for decades. He started at the Forty Creek site on 27 July 1987, when it was still Reider Distillery. He retired in 2025 after 38 years. Doug Costantini of Campari Group Canada wrote the thank-you note.
Can I pick up Forty Creek Copper Bold at the distillery?
Yes. Forty Creek pickup is at 297 South Service Road in Grimsby. Orders before noon on a weekday can be ready that day, after a second email says so. Hours run 10am to 5pm Monday to Saturday, and Sunday from 11am.
Is Forty Creek Copper Bold gluten-free?
Forty Creek does not mark it gluten-free. The FAQ says distillation leaves gluten proteins behind, but any spirit that still contains gluten would be marked on its label. Ask a doctor if you are sensitive.
