Only 85,000 bottles of Pappy are produced each year.
From Jan.28 to Feb. 10,select B.C. Liquor Stores will allow customers to enter a draw for a chance to purchase various rare bourbons – including a bottle of Pappy Van Winkle bourbon. Pappy is the holy grail of bourbons and very difficult to find.
Bourbon is a type of whisky made primarily from corn, and is almost exclusively made in Kentucky, USA. I find bourbon sweeter and more caramelized than scotch whisky. What makes Pappy unique is that it uses wheat in its production rather than rye, so that the bourbon smoother and softer.
So what is Pappy and why is it so expensive?The name of the bourbon comes from Julian Proctor “Pappy” Van Winkle Sr.He was an owner of a bourbon distillery at the turn of the 20th century and continued to be involved in making bourbon until his death in 1965. Pappy was known for his attention to quality. His family continued to make bourbon until 1971, when their distillery was sold.The Van Winkle family re-entered the bourbon industry in 1981, when they started producing bourbon under the Old Rip Van Winkle brand.As the popularity of their bourbon grew, they started offering aged bourbons.In 1994, they produced a 20 year old bourbon under the Pappy Van Winkle name.At that time, no one produced bourbons that were aged so long, since the distillery would have to wait 20 years before selling their product, and by aging their bourbon so long in casks, more of the bourbon would evaporate, leaving a more concentrated but smaller quantity of bourbon.With a 20-year-old bourbon, almost 40 per centof the bourbon will evaporate during the aging process (the evaporate is known as the “Angel’s Share”).
The Van Winkle family began to run into financial problems since it was exceedingly expensive to produce their aged bourbons.Even though they were making exceptional bourbons, not many people wanted to pay for a high-end bourbon.So in 2002, they partnered with Buffalo Trace Distillery, a larger distillery who now produces the Pappy bourbons based on the Van Winkle family recipes and specifications.
Pappy is a pretty recent phenomenon, as they only started to bottle their 15-year-old bourbon in 2011, and their 23-year-old bourbon in 2016.Fortunately for Buffalo Trace and the Van Winkle family, with globalization, bourbons became more popular with a wider audience who were willing to pay astronomical prices for their bourbons.
How exclusive is Pappy?There are only 85,000 bottles of Pappy bourbonproduced each year.That seems like a lot of bottles, but these bottles service the demand of the entire bourbon drinking world.
A few years ago, I visited a bar with a huge collection of Pappy, so I tried the 12-year-old Rip Van Winkle, together with the 15-year-old and 20-year-old Pappy’s. There was not a huge difference between the 12 and 15-year-old bourbon, but the 20-year-old was much more concentrated and smoother.
For bourbon lovers, getting to purchase a bottle of Pappy is special. Although Pappy is expensive (between $160-900 per bottle), the same bottle will sell for three to five times as much at auction.So if you’re the lucky winner of the draw at the B.C. Liquor Stores, savour your win with the knowledge that you will be experiencing one of the finest bourbons produced on this planet.
Until next time, happy drinking!
Tony Kwan is a lifestyle writer. Lawyer by day, food and wine lover by night, Tony aims to give you an insider’s guide to the best that life has to offer.
FAQs
It's the “holy grail” of bourbon. Some people are breaking the law to obtain some.
Why is Pappy Van Winkle so hard to get? ›
As Japhe puts it, “You're more likely to spot Elvis at your local liquor store than you are to see Pappy sitting on a shelf at suggested retail value.” Part of the problem is Van Winkle's scarcity: Pappy is aged longer than most bourbons, which makes it difficult for Buffalo Trace to meet skyrocketing demand.
Why is Pappy Van Winkle so expensive? ›
Rarity: Pappy Van Winkle is produced in limited quantities, and the 23-year-old variant is particularly scarce due to its extended aging process. Limited supply drives up demand and, consequently, prices.
How much is Rip Van Winkle bourbon? ›
Suggested retail prices are as follows: $49.99 – Old Rip Van Winkle Handmade Bourbon 10 Year Old 107 proof. $59.99 – Van Winkle Special Reserve Bourbon 12 Year Old. $99.99 – Van Winkle Family Reserve Rye Whiskey 13 Year Old.
What is the MSRP for Blanton's Gold? ›
Blanton's Gold will be coming to the United States (finally!) for the summer of 2020 and with an SRP of $120.
What is the most sought-after bottle of bourbon? ›
1. Old Rip Van Winkle 25 Year Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Kentucky, USA. Launched in 2017, Old Rip Van Winkle 25 Year Old is one of the most sought-after whiskies in the world and was distilled in 1989 at the now closed Van Winkle family distillery in Shively, Ky.
What is the closest tasting whiskey to Pappy Van Winkle? ›
What Is the Closest Pappy Van Winkle Alternative? The W.L. Weller Special Reserve bourbon is the closest-tasting bourbon to Pappy Van Winkle, as it shares the same recipe as the premium bourbon. Both bourbons are produced by the Buffalo Trace Distillery, with variations in the production process.
What is the rarest Pappy? ›
The biggest prize of the bunch is undoubtedly a very special bottling of Pappy Van Winkle 23 Year Old. This particular label of Kentucky straight bourbon needs no introduction being that it's the most collectible American whiskey on the planet.
What tastes most like Pappy? ›
The long-standing backup for the Pappy bourbon collection is the W.L. Weller line, as these wheated bourbons are also distilled by Buffalo Trace. In fact, not only are Weller and Pappy now made in the same place, but they also share the same mash bill, the same barrel entry proof, and the same barrel specifications.
Do people sell fake Pappy Van Winkle? ›
A few guys in Kentucky make the best Van Winkle fakes (although some decent ones are also coming out of Japan). These counterfeiters obtain empty, used Pappy bottles, refill them with a cheap substitute, and then reseal them as convincingly as possible.
We understand that you may wish to taste some of these offerings, such as Pappy Van Winkle, Weller, the Antique Collection; and other limited releases while visiting the Distillery. Unfortunately, these are not available in our Visitor Center and Gift Shop for either tasting or purchasing.
What is the poor man's Pappy Van Winkle? ›
“Poor Man's Pappy” is a 2:3 blend of Weller 12 yr + Old Weller Antique 107. For a ready to to drink blend of Poor Man's Pappy, pour 2 parts (40%) Weller 12 year and 3 parts (60%) Old Weller Antique 107 into a glass. Give it a swirl and let sit for 5-10 minutes.
How many bottles of Pappy 23 are released each year? ›
This makes it incredibly hard to find, and spirits enthusiasts may have to wait decades just to purchase an authentic bottle. The distillery releases approximately 7,000 cases per year, which is only 84,000 bottles.
Who owns Buffalo Trace? ›
In 1992, Sazerac acquired the George T. Stagg Distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky, at which time the company's primary focus became the production of bourbon whiskey, a product that is primarily distilled, aged, and bottled in Kentucky, later changing its name to the Buffalo Trace Distillery in 1999.
Who owns Pappy Van Winkle? ›
Pappy Van Winkle's Family Reserve is the flagship brand of bourbon whiskey owned by the "Old Rip Van Winkle Distillery" company. It is distilled and bottled by the Sazerac Company at its Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky.
What is considered the best bourbon in the world? ›
1792 12-Year-Old
If you are a bourbon lover searching for the crème de la crème, look no further. Named the World's Best Bourbon, 1792 12-Year-Old is a bottle that you need to pick up.
What is the devil's cut of bourbon? ›
This term refers to the bourbon that evaporates from a barrel during the aging process. For each year bourbon spends in a barrel, about 3% to 4% of its contents are lost on average. The exact amount is determined by factors, such as temperature (the hotter it is, the more quickly bourbon evaporates) and humidity.
Who is the king of bourbon? ›
His heir as eldest Bourbon and head of the house is today Louis Alphonse, Duke of Anjou.
Who is the Queen of bourbon? ›
Mamie Marie:The Queen of Bourbon.
