Koopers Texas Oak Bourbon: Limited 8-Year Barrel-Proof Release

LEDBETTER, Texas — August 19, 2026. Koopers Whiskey is releasing a limited-edition bourbon finished in Texas-grown white oak barrels — a first for the brand. Just 360 bottles of the 8-year-old Koopers Whiskey Texas Oak Bourbon go on presale at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, August 22, online and at the Koopers Whiskey tasting room.

A Bourbon Built Around Texas Oak

The barrel-proof Straight Bourbon Whiskey starts its life in traditional charred American white oak, then gets a second maturation in toasted, Texas-grown white oak. That finishing step — shaped by Texas’s dramatic climate — is what sets this release apart.

The finishing barrels come from Standard Cooperage in Blanco, Texas, the state’s first cooperage. The collaboration let Koopers explore not just how Texas weather affects aging, but how oak grown and coopered entirely in Texas changes a whiskey’s character.

“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 8-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. Our goal was finding the point where the traditional American oak and Texas-grown oak complement rather than compete with each other. The final blend is expressive but not overwhelming, assertive without becoming harsh, and unmistakably shaped by the place where it was finished.”

Tasting Notes

Bottled at natural barrel proof — 114.8 — the whiskey opens with toasted caramel, Texas pecan, maple syrup, orange peel, and dark cherry on the nose. The palate brings baked apple and stone fruit layered with maple syrup, cinnamon, and brown sugar, finishing long and warm with cinnamon, toasted oak, oaky honey, and crème brûlée.

Quick Facts


Mash Bill	75% Corn, 21% Rye, 4% Malted Barley
Age	8 Years
Proof	114.8 (Barrel Proof)
Finish	Toasted Texas-Grown White Oak
Cooperage	Standard Cooperage, Blanco, Texas
Distilled	Indiana (MGP Ingredients)
Price	$70 SRP / 750ml
Bottles Available	360

How to Buy

Presale opens Saturday, August 22 at 11:00 a.m. online at KoopersWhiskey.com and in person at the Koopers Whiskey tasting room, 100 West U.S. 290, Ledbetter, TX 78945. Shipping is expected to begin around September 1. With only two casks yielding 360 bottles, this release is expected to sell out fast — sign up for the Koopers newsletter or follow the brand on Instagram and Facebook for release-day updates.

About Koopers Whiskey

Koopers Whiskey is a family-owned Texas whiskey brand founded by Troy and Michelle Kooper, built on old-world blending traditions. The company crafts boutique Texas Bourbons and Ryes focused on maturation, blending, and finishing — letting the whiskey itself take center stage.

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