Celebrating a Decade of Texas Spirit at Copper Shot

One of the best things about living in Central Texas is discovering the places tucked just far enough off the beaten path that they still feel like a secret.

About 40 minutes east of Austin, down Highway 71, sits Bastrop, one of Texas’ most historic small towns. With its charming downtown, scenic stretch along the Colorado River, and a square that feels tailor-made for wandering, Bastrop has long been a destination worth exploring. You can spend the afternoon strolling through local shops, grabbing something sweet from a bakery, or finding your next great read at the bookstore.

But if you’re making the trip, there’s one stop whiskey lovers shouldn’t miss.

Tucked into downtown Bastrop is Copper Shot Distillery, a distillery that has quietly become a cornerstone of the local community over the last decade.

Earlier this month, Copper Shot celebrated its 10th anniversary with live music, raffles, and a special release of Bu Ford-T Rye Whiskey. It was the kind of celebration that felt less like a business milestone and more like a community reunion, the sort of gathering that perfectly reflects what Copper Shot has built since opening its doors. 

The distillery was founded by husband-and-wife team Stephen and Cheri Todee, who were looking for something they could build together. Stephen’s background in industrial distillation, paired with a shared love of good spirits and lively company, made the leap into craft distilling feel like a natural one.

Stephen designed a custom still of his own, and together they planted roots in downtown Bastrop.

Ten years later, that decision has grown into something much bigger than a tasting room.

Copper Shot handcrafts its spirits on-site using rainwater, local grains, and small-batch production methods that allow for a deeply hands-on approach. Their lineup has included everything from moonshine and vodka to whiskey and specialty spirits, each bottle purchased at the distillery comes with the distillery’s signature engraved copper shot glass, a detail that has become instantly recognizable to fans across Texas.

Walk through the doors and you immediately get the sense that this place is different.

One of the first things visitors notice is the collection of suspended glass vessels lining the space, their colorful infusions glowing warmly against the historic brick walls. The atmosphere is welcoming and unpretentious. On weekends, their Bloody Mary bar draws locals and visitors alike. It’s the kind of place where regulars are greeted by name and first-time visitors are welcomed like old friends.

Then there’s the cigar lounge.

Housed in what was once Bastrop’s old fire station, the space is layered with history. During the renovation, Stephen thoughtfully preserved elements of the original building, including the fireman’s pole, which now serves as the footrest along the bar. It’s a small detail, but one that says a lot about the care poured into this place.

What makes Copper Shot especially memorable, though, isn’t just the spirits or the setting.

It’s the people.

The Todees have built more than a distillery. They’ve built a gathering place.

While visiting during the anniversary celebration, one guest shared stories about how Copper Shot has honored regular patrons who have passed away over the years. Above the cigar lounge bar, photos and memorabilia preserve their memory. It’s a quiet but powerful reminder that places like this become woven into the lives of the people who walk through their doors.

That kind of connection can’t be manufactured.

It has to be earned over time, one pour, one conversation, and one evening at a time.

That spirit of hospitality extends even further.

Copper Shot has long made it a point to honor veterans and first responders, a commitment woven into the fabric of the distillery itself. Throughout the space, patches from military units and first responder organizations are proudly displayed, each one representing stories of service, sacrifice, and connection.

In the cigar lounge, that appreciation takes on an especially meaningful form.

There, you’ll find a humidor locker reserved specifically for veterans. Members of the lounge help keep it stocked by donating cigars, creating a simple but powerful tradition: when a visiting veteran stops by, they’re invited to enjoy a cigar free of charge.

It’s the kind of thoughtful gesture that says a lot about the people behind Copper Shot.

It isn’t about making a statement for attention. It’s about quietly creating a place where service is recognized, honored, and appreciated.

Like so much of what Stephen and Cheri have built, it reflects a genuine belief that a distillery can be more than a place to enjoy great spirits.

It can be a place where people feel seen.

If your travels along the Texas Whiskey Trail bring you through Bastrop, make time for Copper Shot Distillery.

Stay for a cocktail. Explore the lounge. Talk to the people at the bar.

You may come for the whiskey, but chances are you’ll leave remembering the experience.

Because sometimes the best stops along the Trail aren’t just the places making great spirits.

They’re the places making people feel at home.