In the morning, the Copper Shot Distillery smells sweet — like fresh rolls and baking bread.

Inside an old wooden house off Main Street in Bastrop, 180 gallons of grain and corn ferments in a large metal vat, popping and bubbling for five days as the yeast starts to break down the sugars.

When it’s ready, Stephen Todee, an oil man and brew-maker, takes the liquid from the drum and moves it to a shining copper still, like something out of a science experiment. He heats the mixture to 168 degrees, cutting off the harmful chemicals. At 174 degrees, it turns to vapor, rising up into the condenser, which cools it back down to liquid form.

When it comes out the end of a twist of tubes and hoses, it’s the purest, richest Texas moonshine some fans say they’ve ever tasted — a strong 130 proof. Todee cuts it with rainwater, bottles it and moves it behind the bar.

There, he and his wife, Cheri, serve handcrafted cocktails with the shine and vodka — spiked espressos, ciders and slushies on a menu a mile long that the two concocted.

Copper Shot Distillery will open in March at the Crossing in Bastrop. A factory and bar, it overlooks the Colorado River, Neighbor’s Kitchen & Yard outdoor amphitheater and the city’s Old Iron Bridge.

It will sell moonshine and vodka by the bottle, glass or cocktail.

For the ladies, Cheri has clothing, jewelry and accessories at a boutique in the front room.

On weekends, the distillery will host live music, trading gigs with neighboring restaurants and business owners in the Crossing. Outside, kids can play ring toss and checkers. A row of wooden rocking chairs lines the porch. In the corner sits a rope hammock. The wind off the Colorado River comes in cool and moist.

"The view is awesome," Todee said. "You can’t ask for any better."

On a Tuesday, as the moonshine is mixing, Todee catches a whiff of alcohol on the breeze. He runs to his father, who is watching the still to see if this batch is ready. Making liquor, he said, is a time-sensitive process that requires diligence and control.

"You can’t let your guard down," he said. "It’s a lot of work so you really have to enjoy what you’re doing. It’s a labor of love."

Todee was born and raised in Texas. He went to school in Burton, where he met his wife. The two moved to Paige 16 years ago, had their daughter, then bought a home in Tahitian Village. Todee began brewing beers in the garage. He built up a small following among friends, who said he made a "mean Pecan Porter."

Todee wanted to find a way to turn his passion into a living. "There were so many craft brewers," he said. "I wanted to do something different."

He had learned through trial and error to make liquor and decided to open a "distillery pub," where people could see their moonshine being made and enjoy a cocktail with friends.

"We want to be a place people can hang out, drink, enjoy the spirits," he said.

Copper Shot Distillery is open weekends. During hours of operation, the still will be running, so patrons can see exactly how their booze gets from the fermenter to the cocktail glass. The store also sells 750ml bottles of its product with a signature copper shot glass, limited at two per customer per month.