Koopers Whiskey Releases 10-Year-Old Rye in Ledbetter, Texas
Koopers Whiskey is releasing a rare 10-year-old straight rye in Ledbetter, and this one has a pretty wild maturation story behind it.
The Koopers 10-Year-Old Straight Rye Whiskey Finished in a Buffalo Trace Barrel will be released on Saturday, May 9, 2026, beginning at 11:00 AM at the Koopers Whiskey Texas Tasting Room in Ledbetter, Texas.
This limited release started as a 100% rye mash bill distilled in Illinois at Koval Distillery, where Troy and Michelle Kooper trained under Dr. Robert Birnecker. The whiskey was later brought to Texas, where it spent a full decade maturing under the influence of the Texas climate.
But here’s where things get especially nerdy.
After its initial aging period, the rye was transferred into a previously used 7-year-old Buffalo Trace bourbon barrel, where it spent nine years developing additional depth. Most whiskey finishes are measured in months. This one apparently moved into the finishing barrel, unpacked its bags, put up art, and started receiving mail.
The result is a 10-year-old straight rye bottled at 100 proof and offered in 375ml bottles for $50 each. Only 231 bottles were produced, so availability is extremely limited.
According to Koopers, the nose opens with bold rye spice, baked rye bread, vanilla bean, orange peel, and oak. The palate brings dark caramel, toffee, black pepper, cherry, and tobacco leaf, with a long warming finish of toasted coconut, dark chocolate, and pipe tobacco.
This release also reflects a big part of the Koopers Whiskey story. The whiskey began with Koval distillate, but its character was shaped through long Texas maturation, blending, finishing, and the kind of patience that would make most spreadsheets file a complaint.
If you are a fan of rye whiskey, Texas aging, or unusual barrel stories, this is one to keep an eye on.
This event is part of the growing list of Texas whiskey releases and tasting room events happening across the state. You can find more Koopers Whiskey events, explore other Central Texas whiskey events, or check out the full Texas Whiskey Events Calendar to see what else is coming up.
Release details, bottle availability, and pricing may change, so be sure to confirm the latest information directly with Koopers Whiskey before making the drive.
And if this calendar helped you find your next bottle hunt, consider grabbing some Texas Whiskey Geek merch. It helps support this independent website, keeps the event calendar ad-free, and lets me keep chasing down limited Texas whiskey releases before they disappear into someone’s bunker next to the emergency brisket.
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