The Prodigal Son Sour Mash Bourbon, produced by Kooper Family Whiskey in Ledbetter, Texas, is distilled in Kentucky and aged in Central Texas. This limited-edition straight bourbon has a mash bill of 78% corn, 10% rye and 12% malt. Aged for four years and bottled at 86 proof, it is available exclusively at the distillery for $40. Founded in 2012 by Troy and Michelle Kooper, Kooper Family Whiskey is a family-owned blending house known for sourcing and blending small batches of whiskey.
The palate is quite toasty with wood but also loaded with notes of dark chocolate and vanilla, and some evidence of rye spice in the mix. Drying and savory on first blush, it immediately comes across as austere and surprisingly refined considering its fairly youthful pedigree.
In the end, Prodigal Son is good and I’m going to enjoy drinking the rest of this bottle, but it doesn’t quite do enough for me to give it anything more than a “Mid Shelf” rating.
