Hochstadter Vatted Straight Rye Whisky … if you don’t NOT click the “BUY” button, there is something wrong with you.

Cooper Spirits founder Robert Cooper rocked the bartending world by making something entirely new. In 2007 they exploded onto the craft distilling scene with their flagship product—St. Germain—an innovative liqueur whose primary component is French elder flower from the Burgundy region. This accomplishment raised Cooper Spirits to become the Wine Enthusiast “Distiller of the Year” just four years later. Cheers to you Rob!

Located in Philadelphia, Cooper Spirits remains the brand manager for St. Germain, having sold production to Barcardi. But Robert Cooper is a third-generation liquor producer and has no intention of stopping now. They have used those funds to curate and launch several new products: Illegal Mezcal, Slow & Low bottled cocktail, Lock Stock & Barrel Rye Whiskey, Hochstadter’s Straight Rye, and their newest product, Creme Yvette, which is a re-introduction of a liqueur first marketed by Rob’s grandfather decades ago.

Once Robert Cooper sets his mind to crafting a spirit, he cuts no corners, and Hochstadter Vatted Straight Rye Whisky is a great example. If you are a Rye fan, this just may be “the one.” First, this is bottled at 100 proof—nearly cask-strength—from a blend of premium Rye spirits sourced from Canada and the Mid-west. Then, not only is this glistening amber gem NOT chill filtered, it ain’t filtered at all. Ever see that before? Didn’t think so.

Only then is it aged for… brace yourself… fourteen to fifteen years in oak before being vatted. A “vatted” blend is where the various barrels and production runs are not just proportionately squirted into bottles, they are all placed in a large wooden vat and allowed to marry—becoming cohesive over time. If you haven’t clicked the “BUY” button yet, there is something wrong with you.

Unlce Flaviar has just commissioned a bronze statue of Robert Cooper to be placed in the Flaviar lobby.