The Cooper Spirits Co.
Overview of the Distillery
The Cooper Spirits Co. is a family-owned, independent producer of spirits founded in 2006 by Robert J. Cooper and Katie Cooper. The company covers a wide range of products, from well-aged rye whiskies under Lock Stock & Barrel to classic bottled cocktails and well-known liqueurs like Crème Yvette and St-Germain. Taken together, the portfolio provides an overview of both distilled rye and craft, ingredient-driven products.
History
The company began in 2006 when Robert J. Cooper and Katie Cooper established an independent, family-owned business focused on integrity-driven spirits. Over time, the portfolio has expanded to include several different brands and product categories. Lock Stock & Barrel positions itself as a line of high-aged rye whiskies, while Hochstadter's Slow & Low covers bottled Rock & Rye and Coffee Old Fashioned variants. At the same time, the Cooper company has licensed or distributed liqueurs such as Crème Yvette and St-Germain. The company and its products have been recognized in the industry with accolades such as 'Distiller of the Year' and inclusion in Bon Appétit's 'Hot Ten'.
Raw Materials and Production
From a production-technical perspective, the Lock Stock & Barrel whiskies are based on 100% koji-fermented rye, and the range is double-distilled in copper pot stills. The distillates are aged in new American oak and undergo a so-called cold maturation. In addition to distilled rye, ready-to-drink bottled cocktails are part of the range, where Straight Rye Whiskey is combined with ingredients such as navel orange, raw honey, demerara sugar, aromatic bitters and Intelligentsia coffee in specified recipes. The liqueur products include fruit and floral extracts; Crème Yvette is produced with raspberries, wild strawberries, blackberries, cassis and dried violet leaves from France, and St-Germain is made from fresh elderflowers.
Aging and Barrel Types
Lock Stock & Barrel series primarily ages in new American oak, and the producer specifies cold maturation as part of the aging process. The series includes bottles with long aging times — for example 13, 16, 18, 20 and 21 years — and a vatted straight rye-blend with components aged from 4 to 18 years, with a 9-year 'heart' highlighted.
Whiskies
The portfolio spans several categories: Lock Stock & Barrel is the producer's line of high-aged rye whiskies, including both single-age expressions and a vatted straight rye blend. Hochstadter's Slow & Low contains bottled Rock & Rye and Coffee Old Fashioned products, combining straight rye whiskey with citrus, honey, sugar, coffee, and bitters. In addition, liqueurs such as Crème Yvette and St-Germain represent fruit- and floral-based products in the lineup. Taken together, the range shows the company working with both distilled rye and with ingredient-driven, finished spirits.
| Whiskey | Type / Series | Age | Cask & Style | Flavor Profile | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lock Stock & Barrel 13 Year | Rye whiskey | 13 years | New American oak | One of the Lock Stock & Barrel releases in the producer's range of high-aged rye whiskies. The series is distilled from 100% koji-fermented rye and double-distilled in copper pot stills before aging in new American oak. | Current; Core range |
| Lock Stock & Barrel 16 Year | Rye whiskey | 16 years | New American oak | Part of the Lock Stock & Barrel series of high-aged rye whiskies, produced from koji-fermented rye and double-distilled in copper pot stills before aging in new American oak. | Current; Core range |
| Lock Stock & Barrel 18 Year | Rye whiskey | 18 years | New American oak | An 18-year edition in the Lock Stock & Barrel portfolio, produced from 100% koji-fermented rye, double-distilled in copper pot stills and aged in new American oak under cold maturation. | Current; Core range |
| Lock Stock & Barrel 20 Year | Rye whiskey | 20 years | New American oak | The 20-year edition from Lock Stock & Barrel, part of a series of high-aged rye whiskies distilled from koji-fermented rye and aged in new American oak. | Current; Core range |
| Lock Stock & Barrel 21 Year | Rye whiskey | 21 years | New American oak | The 21-year edition in the Lock Stock & Barrel series, one of the producer's high-aged rye whiskies produced from koji-fermented rye and aged in new American oak. | Current; Core range |
| Lock Stock & Barrel Vatted Straight Rye Whiskey | Rye whiskey (vatted/blend) | New American oak | Vatted Straight Rye Whiskey is a proprietary blend of rye whiskies from Indiana, Kentucky, Pennsylvania and Alberta with components aged from 4 to 18 years and a 9-year 'heart'. The series is based on koji-fermented rye, double distillation and aging in new American oak. | Current; Core range |
Whiskies' Style and Flavor Profile
Several products in the portfolio highlight specific flavor notes: navel orange appears in Rock & Rye and cocktail editions; raw honey and demerara sugar provide sweetness in the ready-made, bottled cocktails, and Coffee Old Fashioned is described with coffee and 'baking spice'. The liqueurs contribute berry character (raspberries, wild strawberries, blackberries, cassis) and floral notes from dried violet leaves and elderflowers. Taken together, these directions paint a picture of citrus and sweetness, spice/coffee, and berry/flower notes.
Philosophy and Craft
The company describes itself as independent and family-owned with an integrity-driven approach to developing and producing spirits. This is reflected in a product strategy that embraces both craft-distilled rye and carefully crafted, ingredient-driven finished products.
Awards and Recognitions
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Distiller of the Year
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Hot Ten