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Please read and drink responsibly.
Classification: Straight Bourbon
Company: Kooper Family Whiskey Co.
Distillery: Sourced from Green River Distilling, Lux Row Distilling, and OZ Tyler Distilling
Release Date: Fall 2026
Proof: 94.4
Age: NAS (Company website states a blend of 4 and 6 year old bourbons)
Mashbill: Undisclosed blend of four bourbons:
-6 Year | Kentucky | 70% Corn, 21% Wheat, 9% Malted Barley
-6 Year | Kentucky | 78% Corn, 13% Rye, 9% Malted Barley
-4 Year | Kentucky | 70% Corn, 21% Rye, 9% Malted Barley
-4 Year | Kentucky | 78% Corn, 10% Rye, 12% Malted Barley
Color: Gold
SRP: $61 / 750mL (2026)
Caramel nut brittle | Dried corn | Cinnamon frosting | Brown sugar | Dried fruit
Butter vanilla | Orange cream | Honey | Mellowcreme | Brown sugar | Light barrel char
Bitter oak tannins | Leather | Burnt sugar | Orange peel | Light rye spice | Mild dryness
Koopers The Prodigal Son Bourbon delivers a rich, well-integrated mix of vanilla, citrus, honey, and brown sugar, though its tannic finish slightly detracts from an otherwise satisfying pour.
Koopers Whiskey The Prodigal Son Bourbon is one of Koopers Whiskey's longest running products. When we reviewed the bourbon in 2020, the blend was 4 years old, 86 proof, and the company didn’t disclose its bourbon source(s). As it was true then and now, Koopers ages their sourced whiskey at their Texas location, which gives more heft to its sip than you might have gotten if it was aged in a colder climate.
The bourbon underwent a label change this year, and with that change, the company now discloses that it sourced the whiskey from Green River Distilling, Lux Row Distilling, and OZ Tyler Distilling with a combined mashbill that results in a four grain bourbon. The blend’s age has also increased, with it being a mix of 4 and 6 year old bourbons. Given that OZ Tyler Distilling became Green River Distilling in September 2020, this is likely some of the last OZ Tyler bourbon produced.
The bourbon’s aroma is mild but interesting thanks to scents of caramel nut brittle, dried corn, cinnamon frosting, and dried fruit. The palate has a nice mouthfeel that coats your tongue and shows this bourbon has some weight. Its flavors of butter vanilla, orange cream, honey, mellowcreme, and brown sugar work exceedingly well together.
The only fault with the bourbon is its finish. It’s a bit bitter and tannic. Combined with leather and some mild dryness, it doesn’t follow what came before it on the palate. Additional notes of burnt sugar, orange peel, and rye spice try to keep it interesting, but it's still a mild letdown.
Tasting this on its own, the tannic finish is more noticeable than after a sip of a different bourbon. Among other bourbons, it stood out in a good way, conveying its solid, satisfying pour. Given the sourced bourbon, its aging environment, and its enjoyable nose and palate, its $61 asking price is fair. The only caveat is if you’re someone overly sensitive to tannins in your bourbon.
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