Continuing its exploration of bold maturation techniques and distinctive whiskey blending, Koopers Whiskey announces the release of Koopers 10-Year-Old Straight Rye Whiskey that spent nine years maturing in a previously used Buffalo Trace bourbon barrel, creating a unique example of extended secondary maturation in American whiskey. This highly limited expression, which captures the brand’s origins and its evolution, will be released on Saturday, May 9, 2026, exclusively at the Koopers Whiskey tasting room in Ledbetter, Texas.
Koopers Whiskey has long embraced innovation through blending, aging, and finishing. This release reflects the transformative power of time, climate, and cask selection. While secondary finishing continues to shape the premium whiskey category, extended finishing in used bourbon barrels over multiple years remains a rare and compelling approach. The Koopers 10-Year Old Straight Rye embodies both the intensity of long-term Texas aging and a maturation strategy rarely seen in the category, where most finishing periods last only months, not years.
“This whiskey tells our story better than anything we’ve released,” said Koopers Whiskey Master Blender Troy Kooper. “It starts with our roots at Koval Distillery in Chicago, where Michelle and I trained as distillers under Dr. Robert Birnecker. Koval gave us our start by allowing us access to unaged distillate while we were building our plans. But along the way, we fell in love with the art of aging, blending, and maturation—and that ultimately came to define who we are.”
Distilled in Illinois at Koval Distillery using a 100% rye mash bill, the whiskey was brought to Texas, where it underwent a full decade of maturation. After its initial ageing period, the whiskey was transferred into a previously used 7-year-old Buffalo Trace bourbon barrel, allowing the whiskey to develop extraordinary depth under the influence of the Texas climate for nine years. The extended finishing period created a unique balance between the bold rye’s natural spice and the richer, sweeter, rounder characteristics associated with mature bourbon influence.
This release not only showcases Koopers Whiskey’s commitment to creative maturation but also pays tribute to the foundational relationships and decisions that shaped the brand. By combining original Koval distillate with extended finishing in a Buffalo Trace barrel, the whiskey offers a rare intersection of origin, craft, and innovation.
Koopers 10-Year-Old Straight Rye Whiskey Finished in a Buffalo Trace Barrel
- Mash Bill: 100% Rye
- Age: 10 Years Old
- Finish: 7-Year-Old Used Buffalo Trace Bourbon Barrel (9 years)
- Proof: 100 (50% ABV)
- Volume: 375ml
- State of Distillation: Illinois
- Price: $50 per bottle
- Availability: Extremely limited, 231 bottles