We were traveling on U.S. 290 not long ago when Hubby remarked, “We ought to stop at that distillery in Giddings.” Not aware that there was a distillery in Giddings, I immediately started Googling. He said he had seen it when we drove by it on a previous trip. Turns out he was referring to Kooper’s Whiskey in Ledbetter which is about nine miles east of Giddings. Not an actual distillery, it is a tasting room and blending house.
After years of making whiskey together as a hobby, husband and wife team Troy and Michelle Kooper left corporate life in Austin and moved to the country to pursue their dreams and started the Kooper Family Whiskey Company.
Kooper Family’s blending house was founded in 2014 with a love for crafting exceptional whiskeys through patient aging and careful blending. Eight years later, Kooper Family whiskeys are found across Texas, and their tasting room hosts thousands of visitors yearly. And it is 100% family-owned and operated.
Not familiar with the term “blending house,” I learned that a blending house uses various whiskey casks from multiple distilleries to create a new and unique product.
Those visiting the tasting room and blending house may enjoy premium whiskey flights with rye whiskey and bourbon or expertly crafted cocktails. Limited edition whiskeys are also sold exclusively in the tasting room.
We entered the unassuming building and once our eyes adjusted from the bright sunshiny afternoon outside to the darkish, dimly lit interior, we were enchanted.
From the exposed wooden beams and hardwood floors to the galvanized metal-clad walls and stamped metal-fronted bar, it had a super chill vibe. There was a lot to take in visually. On one side of the large room lay two dozen casks. There were several sitting areas decked out in a mid-century modern style, in addition to some tables with chairs and benches where larger groups could sit.
In some ways, it was a little like stepping back in time. Beautiful large antique pieces were used to display the wares. Additionally, numerous antique tools, bits and bobs and unique artwork were implemented in the decor.
“In 2015 we sourced our first 175 gallons of unaged whiskey right off the still from Koval Distillery in Chicago. We barreled it up, aged it in the hot Texas climate, and later released it as Kooper Family 100% Rye Whiskey,” the Koopers said.
“Later we took that same distillate and blended it with another whiskey we began sourcing from Tennessee. We aged these two separately in different style barrels and married the result in a used bourbon barrel for a more balanced, complex whiskey. We released this as Kooper Family Rye, A Blend of Straight Rye Whiskies.
“That first purchase of unaged distillate and first successful attempt at whiskey blending started what has become a long journey of establishing the first traditional whiskey blending house in Texas. Distillates from Kentucky, Indiana, Tennessee, and Illinois are our primary substrate in a craft that takes dedication and extreme patience – one that has become a newly formed family tradition that we plan to pass down to future generations of Koopers.”
We each ordered an Old Fashioned, our cocktail of choice, and thoroughly enjoyed them. We considered purchasing a bottle to take home, but as it was a Sunday afternoon and state law prohibits the sale of alcohol on Sundays for off-premises consumption, we were out of luck. That just means that we’ll have to go back on another day.
The offerings include: Kooper Family Rye, a blend of straight rye whiskeys; Sweetheart of the Rodeo, a blend of straight bourbon whiskeys; The Prodigal Son, a sour mash bourbon; Barrel Reserve Rye, a barrel strength rye blend; Single Barrel Bourbon; and Runaway Rye, a limited-edition straight rye whiskey. Branded T-shirts and caps are also available for purchase.
If you find yourself meandering in that neck of the woods and just want to relax and chill for a little bit, I highly recommend this unique place. n
Kooper’s Whiskey is located at 100 West U.S. 290 in Ledbetter. The hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays through Wednesdays, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays and noon to 6 p.m. Sundays. For additional information, go to kooperfamily.com.
