Review of The Prodigal Son Bourbon by Koopers Whiskey

 

Koopers Whiskey came about even though neither had an inside edge in the spirits industry. Troy had a background in design. Michelle was a full-time homemaker and mother of two, who made everything for the family that she could, including soap and toothpaste!

 

The idea came while they were sharing a pour of whiskey at the kitchen table. Troy made his first two stills in that family kitchen. He tinkered with them until he discovered the “right” way to make whiskey. However, for the quantities required, he found that task daunting and, instead, he and Michelle decided to become blenders and leave the distilling part to the seasoned pros.

 

I’ve had the opportunity to review a handful of whiskeys from the Koopers in the past and have found them to be skilled blenders. Today, I’ll be exploring The Prodigal Son.

 

If you’re even semi-religious, you probably know the Biblical parable of The Prodigal Son. If you don’t know the story, here’s the gist: A father had two sons. The youngest wanted to explore the world, and he asked his father for his share of his inheritance to fund his journey. He was frivolous and soon found himself broke and hungry. He sucked up his pride and returned home and begged forgiveness, asking if his father would take him back as a servant.

 

His father saw him coming, ran toward him, kissed him, and asked his servants to dress the son in fine clothing, gave him a gold ring, and threw a party with good food and wine. The older brother heard the ruckus,¹ asked what was happening, and became furious when he learned what had happened. The older son confronted his father, who replied that he was celebrating the return of his son, who was previously considered lost and dead, yet was found alive.

 

“For Texans, that idea of coming home carries a meaning all its own. Home is more than a place—it’s where our roots run deep, where we know who we are, and where the best stories and celebrations begin. The Prodigal Son celebrates the journey back: embracing your roots, staying true to who you are, and raising a glass to the people and places that made you.” – Koopers Whiskey

 

The Prodigal Son is sourced from Green River Distilling Co., O.Z. Tyler, and Lux Row Distillers. The Kentucky Straight Bourbon consists of two 4-year-olds and two 6-year-olds. The resulting blend is a four-grain Bourbon blended in small batches. It is packaged at 47.2% ABV (94.4°) and has a suggested price of $61.00 for a 750mL bottle.

 

How does The Prodigal Son fare? We’ll have to #DrinkCurious to find out, and luckily, Koopers Whiskey sent me a sample in exchange for my no-strings-attached, honest review.

 

• Whiskey Type: Bourbon
• Distiller: Green River, OZ Tyler, and Lux Row
• Age: 4 years
• Mashbills: 4-Grain Bourbon blend of:
• 78% Corn, 10% Rye, 12% Malted Barley
• 70% Corn, 21% Wheat, 9% Malted Barley
• 78% Corn, 13% Rye, 9% Malted Barley
• 70% Corn, 21% Rye, 9% Malted Barley
• Cooperage: New, 53-gallon charred oak barrels
• Alcohol Content: 47.2% ABV (94.4°)
• Price per 750mL: $61.00

 

Appearance: I used a Glencairn glass to explore this Bourbon neat. The coppery liquid produced a medium-thick rim with randomly spaced, thicker, slow tears.

 

Nose: After 15 minutes, I was ready to explore the aroma. As I began sniffing, I smelled corn, powdered cinnamon, dried strawberries, vanilla, and mild oak. When I pulled the air into my mouth, I found leather.

 

Palate: The first sip revealed a creamy texture with a fruity tang. With the second sip, I discerned toffee, leather, and oak on the front of my palate; the middle featured orange zest, plantains, and a gentle kiss of strawberries. I tasted leather, cinnamon, and nutmeg on the back.

 

Finish: Fairly subdued, the finish included flavors of oak, toffee, leather, cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, and creamy vanilla. A slight sizzle remained on my tongue, with the entire experience lasting 1:22. The last ten or so seconds were rather dry.

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: The Prodigal Son is an easy sipper; that goes without saying. I can see pouring it for a party where you don’t want to get blitzed while you’re looking to have a good time. It drank right at about its stated proof. You’ll be able to enjoy the pour without any ill effects.

 

For the casual sipper, I believe The Prodigal Son is a Bourbon to relish. There’s absolutely nothing off-putting about it.

 

For the more seasoned whiskey fan, The Prodigal Son is a nice break from some of the higher-proofed American options on store shelves, while still offering a fun, well-balanced personality. It is fairly priced and easy to share with friends. That’s the formula for a Bottle rating!

 

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¹Ah yes, the ruckus. Back when dinosaurs roamed the earth (this was in the 1980s), there was a movie called The Breakfast Club. If you haven’t seen it, it is one of the better teen-angst films of the era. Every time I hear the word ruckus, I immediately think of that scene, and it brings a huge smile to my face. Cheers!

courtesy of Koopers Whiskey

 

My Simple, Easy-to-Understand Rating System

• Bottle = Buy It
• Bar = Try It
• Bust = Leave It

 

Whiskeyfellow encourages you to enjoy your whiskey as you see fit, but begs you to do so responsibly.