Koopers Whiskey has introduced Koopers Whiskey Texas Oak Bourbon, an eight-year-old barrel-proof straight bourbon finished in toasted Texas-grown white oak. The limited release of 360 bottles goes on sale at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, 22 August, both online and at the brand’s Ledbetter, Texas tasting room.
The expression is the first of its kind for the blending house. It begins its maturation in traditional charred American white oak barrels before a second maturation in toasted Texas-grown white oak.
Those finishing barrels were produced by Standard Cooperage in Blanco, Texas, the state’s first cooperage. The partnership allows Koopers to study how both the Texas climate and locally grown oak shape the whiskey’s character.
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“Texas Oak Bourbon was conceived as a showcase for oak, not as an afterthought to the whiskey,” said Master Blender Troy Kooper. “We selected barrels of mature eight-year-old bourbon with a strong sense of identity, including a solid core of sweetness, structure, and grain character that we wanted. We transferred the bourbon into toasted Texas-grown white oak casks to amplify what was already working and to add a distinctly local voice.”
According to Kooper, the aim was balance. “Our goal was finding the point where the traditional American oak and Texas-grown oak complement rather than compete with each other,” he said.
The toasted casks add cinnamon spice, pecan, and a more layered finish, according to the brand. The whiskey is bottled at its natural barrel proof of 114.8.
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READ THE STORYIts mash bill comprises 75% corn, 21% rye, and 4% malted barley. The bourbon was distilled in Indiana at MGP Ingredients.
The official notes from the brand describe aromas of toasted caramel, Texas pecan, maple syrup, orange peel, and dark cherry. The palate offers baked apple, stone fruit, maple syrup, cinnamon, and brown sugar, followed by a long, warming finish of cinnamon, toasted oak, oaky honey, and crème brûlée.
Only two casks were used to produce the 360 bottles. Each 750ml bottle carries a suggested retail price of $70. Presale orders are expected to begin shipping around 1 September.
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