The post Wild Turkey Master’s Keep Voyage 2023 appeared first on NC Whiskey.
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Wild Turkey Master’s Keep 2023: Voyage
According to the labels, Wild Turkey Master’s Keep Voyage is going to be the familiar Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, this time finished in Jamaican Pot Still Rum Casks (2023’s Unforgotten was finished in rye). Distilled with the rest of Wild Turkey bourbon in Lawrenceburg, KY, this special release will also be non-chill-filtered (NCF) and bottled at 106 Proof (53% ABV). The tasting notes on the label tease a Master’s Keep with spice, tropical dried fruit, caramel, chocolate, and aged oak.
Will Wild Turkey Master’s Keep Voyage Be Available in NC?
This annual release is always heavily allocated, but Wild Turkey Master’s Keep Voyage will definitely make its way to North Carolina ABC stores sometime, likely the fall, of 2023. How each local ABC board chooses to distribute said release is always a big question. We’ll update out NC ABC Stock page as soon as it hits the state warehouse.
As of now, there’s no official announcement on price or MSRP, but previously Master’s Keep releases have retailed around $225 in North Carolina.
Be sure to sign up for our Mailing List to stay up to date on release details.
Buy Wild Turkey Master’s Keep Online
If you can find something like this through an online retailer, it’s likely to come with a steep price markup. Keep an eye out on retailers like Nestor Liquors or Reserve Bar, you never know what you may find!
Other Whiskey You Might Like
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]]>The post 2022 NC ABC Allocated Bourbon Lotteries appeared first on NC Whiskey.
]]>Have a tip or info on a bourbon lottery? Leave a comment at the bottom of this page or send an email to lotteries@nc-whiskey.com.
Bookmark this page, follow us on Instagram (@ncwhiskey), or sign up for our newsletter if you’d like to receive updates.
2022 Durham County ABC Whiskey Lottery
Durham’s allocated bourbon lottery was officially announced on October 13th and registration is officially open. As of now, it sounds like Durham is still waiting to receive their final allotment of allocated bourbons, so no list of available whiskeys has been posted. The current announcement does not seem to limit who can enter the lottery, other than by age.
The Durham County ABC board is limiting the lottery to one entry per person, but anyone 21+ can enter. No date has been given for the final drawing, but winners will be called and asked to select their bottles (more info on this to come). To find a link to the registration, view the official announcement. We’ll post more info as it becomes available.
2022 Wake County ABC Bourbon Lottery
Wake County has finally announced that they’ve received all their allocated bottles, and entry to this winter’s lottery is now open. This lottery is open to residents of Wake County, exclusively, and you’ll have to prove your residency with a valid NC ID when you go to purchase your bottle (if you win).
Entries to the Wake County Allocated Bourbon lottery are open from now (December 8th, 2022) through January 3rd 2023. See the Wake ABC website for entry details.
The list of bottles available in the lottery are:
- Blood Oath (P7 and P8)
- Colonel EH Taylor
- Single Barrel
- Small Batch
- Elijah Craig 18 Year
- Buffalo Trace Antique Collection
- Eagle Rare 17 Year
- George T. Stagg
- Thomas Handy
- William Larue Weller
- Sazerac Rye BTAC is mysteriously missing from the list.
- All The Pappy
- 10 Year
- 12 Year
- 13 YEar Rye
- 15 Year
- 23 Year
- Stagg Jr.
- Weller Lineup
- Weller 12
- Antique 107
- Weller CYPB
- Weller Special Reserve Barrel Pick
- Woodford Reserve Master Collection
- Old Forester Birthday Bourbon
- Old Forester Single Barrel Pick
- Michter’s Toasted (presumably the barrel strength)
- Old Fitzgerald
- Heaven Hill Heritage
- Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel
2022 Orange County ABC Lottery
The Orange County ABC website indicates that their specialty lottery will take place in December, right on schedule. The registration page indicates that they taking entries all year round, but that window will close on October 31st. Entries are open to anyone over the age of 21. See more details here.
2022 Greensboro ABC Bourbon Lottery
Greensboro has also announced their 2022 allocated bourbon lottery, with registration opening on Saturday, October 15th 2022 and remaining open until the 15th of November. The Greensboro ABC board is open exclusively to Guilford County residents 21 years old and up. One entry per person, but multiple entries are allowed to household.
More details on the lottery rules and registration are available through the Greensboro ABC Website.
2022 Mecklenburg County ABC Whiskey Lottery
Details of the 2022 Meck ABC Lottery are still TBD.
2022 Cumberland ABC Lottery
No real details yet, but the Cumberland ABC website does have this cryptic webpage up: https://www.cumberlandabc.com/lotteries
Shop Bourbon and Whiskey Online
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]]>The post 2022 Maker’s Mark Wood Finishing BRT-01 & BRT-02 appeared first on NC Whiskey.
]]>Maker’s Mark Wood Finishing Series BRT-01 and BRT-02 are not yet “formally” announced by the distillery, but label permits have been posted by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax And Trade Bureau (TTB), so we can say with confidence that it’s coming. We’ll share what we know so far, and update this page with more information as it becomes available.
Maker’s Mark Wood Finishing Series 2022
Starting with the back label, we already learn a lot about the the release of both Maker’s Mark BRT-01 and Maker’s Mark BRT-02. According to the label copy, the 2022 Wood Finishing Series is “inspired by [Maker’s Mark’s] unique history of barrel rotation.” That is, the brand claims 200,000 hand-rotated barrels every year. We might assume “BRT” stands for “barrel rotation”.
The difference between BRT-01 and BRT-02 appears to be the time and location of the barrels. BRT-01 will have a profile that focuses on the aging of barrels during their first three years stored at the top of the rickhouse. As the label indicates, these barrels experience larger temperature swings/variability, which makes the wood of the barrel expand and contract accordingly. This action pulls the aging whiskey in and out of the barrel, imparting unique flavors, “caramel and a hint of toastiness”, as the label says.
There’s also a tease here for Maker’s Mark BRT-02, focusing on the years when the barrels have been “rotated” to the lower levels of the aging warehouse. The label tells us that these barrels age in a cooler, more consistent temperature location that yield “darker, heavier characteristics”, and a promise of fruit and chocolate.
Maker’s Mark BRT-01
These labels are technically only for the Maker’s Mark BRt-01 release, (though, as we’ve seen, the BRT-02 is mentioned in the back label). The front label gives us some information that’s more specific to the first Wood Finishing release of 2022.
Often times label items like Proof and Alcohol By Volume (ABV) are allowed to be “placeholders” in the label approval process, but that’s mostly true for bottles that have variable proofs, like cask-strength releases. For now, it’s relatively safe to assume that Maker’s Mark 2022 Wood Finishing Series BRT-01 will be bottled at 110.6 Proof (55.3% ABV). The front label also tells us that the stave profile for these barrels is a simple 10 Virgin Toasted American Oak Staves. The focus on this bourbon is the warehouse location, so it makes sense we’d see a simple baseline of wood staves.
The tasting notes on the label read as follows”
Deep, Caramelized Barrel Notes Accented With Some Toastiness and Warm Finish
Wood Finishing BRT-01 Release Date
We don’t have any info on specific release dates, yet, but we can expect the BRT-01 to come this spring, and the BRT-02 to follow in the fall.
Maker’s Mark Wood Finishing BRT-01 and BRT-02 In North Carolina
North Carolina residents can rest assured that BRT-01 and BRT-02 will hit shelves in North Carolina. As far as limited release bourbons go, the Maker’s Mark Wood Finishing Series bottles haven’t been particularly difficult to find in past years. Watch our State Warehouse Stock Tracker to see when they hit the state warehouse, and then expect one or two weeks to hit stores.
Also from Maker’s Mark:
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]]>The post E.H. Taylor Barrel Proof Rye 2022 Limited Release appeared first on NC Whiskey.
]]>Everything We Know About E.H. Taylor Barrel Proof Rye
So if there’s no official announcement from Buffalo Trace Distillery, how do we know this whiskey is coming? In December 14th, 2021, a bottle label was approved by the United State Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB). This label is both a teaser and promise of more details to come. So based on the label and application, what do we know about the 2022 E.H. Taylor Barrel Proof Rye?
Obviously, this is a Buffalo Trace Distillery product produced in the Colonel E.H. Taylor brand name, by “The Old Fashioned Copper Distillery” (the name used on the label). It’s approved by the TTB as Class/Type 102, which is the code for “Straight Rye Whiskey“. Nothing too surprising there, from the label application form.
The actual proposed label for EHT Barrel Proof provides a little bit more information, though. The name, of course, indicates that this is a Barrel Proof expression of the E.H. Taylor Straight Rye. The label also indicates that this is Uncut and Unflitered. Sometimes labels like “Barrel Proof” and “Full Proof” can seem synonymous. Full proof whiskeys may still be cut with water back to the original proof at which they were added to the barrel (this is how Weller Full Proof is bottled). The Uncut and Unfiltered description lets us know that no modification are made. No water is added.
So, what “proof” is Barrel Proof? The label indicates 130 Proof (65% ABV), but that’s almost certainly a placeholder. The final proof will likely be somewhere in this ballpark, but will ultimately be determined by the final proof of all the barrels that are included in the final batch. The bottle proof will be the average proof of each barrel at the time it is batched and bottled. This is the same reason each “batch” of Stagg Jr. is a different proof.
How Much Will EHT Barrel Proof Cost?
As of now, there is no indicated MSRP for E.H. Taylor Barrel Proof Rye, so we can’t say for certain how much it will cost. The barrel proof bourbon has an MSRP of $75, and Warehouse C (the last limited release) had an MSRP of $70. It’s likely this new special release from the Colonel EH Taylor Brand will fall somewhere in this ballpark. We’ll update you when we know more.
Is EH Taylor Barrel Proof Rye a Limited Release?
Bourbon fans eagerly await the annual releases of E.H. Taylor Barrel Proof Bourbon, so it’s a reasonable to ask if the Straight Rye equivalent would follow suit. The back label of EHT Barrel Proof Rye indicates that this is a limited release, so for now we should expect to see this only in 2022. That’s not to say it couldn’t become a regular release in the future (it would certainly be easier to produce than EH Taylor Amaranth or Warehouse C). For now, get it while you can.
Here’s the exact text from the label:
Colonel Edmund Haynes Taylor Jr. had uncompromising standards for high quality whiskey that set the stage for the modern day whiskey boom. The barrels selected for this limited edition barrel proof rye release were selected in his honor & with a similar standard so only whiskey deemed of “Topmost Class” was bottled uncut and unfiltered to allow for this full-bodied expression of E.H. Taylor Straight Rye Whiskey. The Barrel Proof Rye release is a testament to its namesake and the measures he took to ensure that all of his whiskeys were of unmatched quality.
Will EHT Barrel Proof Rye be available in North Carolina?
While we don’t have an official distribution list for the EHT Barrel Proof Rye limited release, there’s no reason to think this straight rye whiskey would not come to North Carolina. The NC ABC system will certainly get some kind of allocation, and will likely retail at or near MSRP. Keep an eye on our NC ABC Stock tracker to know when it hits the state warehouse.
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]]>The post 2021 Maker’s Mark Wood Finishing Series FAE-01 and FAE-02 appeared first on NC Whiskey.
]]>- Maker’s Mark FAE-01
- Maker’s Mark FAE-02
Maker’s Mark Wood Finishing Series
Maker’s Mark has been leveraging a unique Stave Finishing program for several years now. Their barrel selection program allows for over 1000 combinations of stave profiles so stores and picks can create totally unique offerings for their members and customers. Maker’s Mark 46 was one of the first successful experiments in this stave finishing process, and has become a constant release from the brand.
The Maker’s Mark Wood Finishing Series began in 2019 with the release of RC6, a distillery-specific stave profile they sent to the public has a Limited Release. In 2020, they followed up RC6 with an even more impressive SE4 X PR5. The 2021 release has just been announced with a stave profile titled FAE-01.
Maker’s Mark FAE-01
The 2021 Wood Finishing Series FAE-01 is set to launch this spring and is distilled using a smaller-than-normal 36-inch copper column still, a small rectifier, and (as always) is non-chill filtered. Master Distiller Rob Samuels tells us that this process, combined with their wheated bourbon mash bill, results in a whiskey with more Fatty Acid Esters, which are supposedly responsible for the tobacco and dried fruit notes (like cherry) that are often present in classic Maker’s Mark whiskey.
The Wood Finishing staves used are, according to the label, 10 virgin toasted American Oak staves. According to Rob’s email to Ambassadors and the official release, these staves were only seared on one side, the other side left raw. He assures us this is a first for the distillery, and helps add to the unique flavor of Maker’s Mark Wood Finishing Series FAE-01, which is described as tasting “just like a barrel warehouse smells.”
Maker’s Mark Wood Finishing Series FAE-01 is bottled at cask strength, 110.6 Proof (55.3% ABV). It’s already hit the NC ABC Price List with a retail price of $59.95, right around MSRP. These bottles tend to fly off the shelf, so keep an eye out for them as soon as they are released, which should start as soon as March.
Maker’s Mark FAE-02
Maker’s Mark Wood Finishing Series FAE-02 promises the same unique distilling method, but the stave finishing process will surely be a bit different. These cousin (or sister) releases will be exciting to compare side by side. We’ll update this post when we know more. Subscribe to our email list if you want to stay in the loop.
Featured Maker’s Mark Releases
Bourbon Enthusiast x Maker’s Mark Private Select 2 (Winter Pick)
750ml
Bourbon Enthusiast x Maker’s Mark Private Select Bourbon
Maker’s Mark Cask Strength Bourbon 750ml
750ml
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]]>The post Woodford Reserve Very Fine Rare Bourbon appeared first on NC Whiskey.
]]>With the 2020 release, Woodford Reserve deviates a bit from the previous fourteen Master’s Collection releases by focusing on modern innovation in whiskey distilling.
Woodford Reserve Master’s Collection 2020
The fifteenth iteration of the Woodford Master’s Collection line is a lower proof oak bomb. Very Fine Rare Bourbon clocks in at just 90.4 Proof (45.2% ABV), but is a blend that includes bourbon aged a full 17 years. This combo of proof and age really lets the time in the barrel shine through.
Those 17-year barrels that are used in this special bourbon release were originally filled in 2003, when Woodford’s Master Distiller Chris Morris first started. In a way, this is an homage to him and his creations.
Very Fine Rare Bourbon in NC
North Carolina will see this bourbon start dropping soon. Woodford Reserve Master’s Collection Very Fine Rare Bourbon costs $129.95 in NC, right as the distillery’s MSRP. It’s more affordable than Woodford’s crystalline Baccarat Edition.
Check with your local ABC store and see if they know when it will be dropping. You can also monitor the ABC Warehouse stock right here at NC Whiskey.
If all else fails, try watching websites like Mash & Grape that may find it in stock eventually and could ship to NC.
Related Products
Here are a few other great products that are similar to this Master’s Collection release, or that we otherwise endorse:
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]]>The post 2020 Buffalo Trace Antique Collection (BTAC) In NC appeared first on NC Whiskey.
]]>It’s that time of year again. Buffalo Trace Distillery has announced more details around the 2020 release of the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection. These rare, limited release whiskeys will drop in late September and early November across the country. They will come in limited quantities, especially in North Carolina. The 2020 Buffalo Trace Antique Collection (BTAC) has a suggested retail price of $99 for each bottle.
2020 BTAC Details
The 2020 Buffalo Trace Antique Collection will consist of the same five bottles it usually does… each a unique, distiller select version of other, usually more common Buffalo Trace Products. The collection contains both three bourbons and two rye whiskeys. Here are the details about each bottle in the 2020 release.
2020 George T. Stagg Bourbon
George T. Stagg is the proverbial big-brother to the slightly more common Stagg Jr. Bourbon fans were underwhelmed in 2019 by the lower proof, though tastings proved to be popular once bottles were opened. The 2020 George T. Stagg is bottled a whopping 130.4 Proof (65.2%ABV), blowing last year’s bottle out of the water.
GTS is a favorite among BTAC collectors, and often one of the easiest to track down. The whiskey is from Buffalo Trace Distillery’s Mash Bill #1 (75% Corn, 10% Rye, and 15% Barley), and aged for at least 15 years. 2020 George T. Stagg has an MSRP of $99.
2020 Eagle Rare 17 Year-Old Bourbon
In my personal opinion, Eagle Rare 10 Year is one of the best value bourbons on the market. The BTAC version, Eagle Rare 17 Year-Old, is a much more mature version. It’s a deliciously delicate pour.
Also from BT’s Mash Bill #1, Eagle Rare 17 is aged all on the first floor of Warehouse P at Buffalo Trace in Frankfort Kentucky. ER17 is bottled at 101 proof (50.5% ABV), so the near two decades of aging takes center stage in the flavor. As with all of these, 2020 Eagle Rare 17 Year-Old has an MSRP of $99.
2020 William Larue Weller Bourbon
William Larue Weller (WLW) is the kingpin of Buffalo Trace Distillery’s Original Wheated Mashbill line. The grandfather to great pours like Weller 12 and Antique 107. Distilled in 2008, the 2020 William Larue Weller is younger than some of the other BTAC pours, but rings in at 134.5 Proof (67.25% ABV), this year’s bottle is HOT. Again, look for a suggested retail price of $99.
2020 Thomas H. Handy Straight Rye Whiskey
Uncut and unfiltered, Thomas H. Handy is a smoking rye whiskey full of pepper and warmth. Aged for about 16 years, this year’s Thomas H. Handy rye is bottled at 129 Proof (64.5% ABV). If you’re a fan of rye, this is one to keep an eye out for during the release season in late September and early November.
Thomas H. Handy is named after a bartender from Louisiana who first used rye in a Sazerac cocktail. We don’t necessarily recommend mixing this one, but drink it how you like I suppose. Like all of these BTACs, the 2020 Thomas H. Handy Straight Rye should retail at $99.
Thomas H Handy Sazerac
750ml
2020 Sazerac 18 Year-Old Rye Whiskey
The other rye whiskey in the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection is Sazerac 18 Year-Old. You’ve likely seen it’s 6-year-young little cousin (Baby Saz) on shelves somewhere. The 18-year expression of this classic rye goes down a little easier than the Handy. Bottled at 90 Proof (45% ABV), Sazerac 18 Year Rye is an enjoyable whiskey full of well aged leather and vanilla. And yep, you guessed it… the 2020 Sazerac 18-Year Rye Whiskey also has a suggested retail of $99.
Buying Buffalo Trace Antique Collection in NC
If you’re interested in finding the 2020 Buffalo Trace Antique Collection in North Carolina, start building relationships now. Your absolute best bet, especially in smaller towns around the state, is to start making friends with ABC store operators and employees. They may be able to tip you off to when 2020 BTAC is hitting shelves. Most boards won’t actually let this hit shelves, though.
Buffalo Trace Antique Collection is rare and allocated, so most boards will either distribute to loyal customers via a list, or hold a lottery to distribute. Ask around, but be nice. Remember, you aren’t entitled to any of these, and most ABC employees are just doing their jobs. Hunt kindly, be generous, and be kind.
Buying 2020 BTAC Online
The 2020 BTAC series will certainly land in online stores like Mash&Grape, or 1-877 Spirits, but you’ll pay a steep premium for the convenience. Throw the $99 MSRP out the window, demand is so high for these bourbons you’ll pay at least $450 for a George T. Stagg, and maybe $1,500 for an Eagle Rare 17.
Related Bourbons and Ryes
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]]>The post Woodford Reserve Baccarat Edition in North Carolina appeared first on NC Whiskey.
]]>What is Woodford Reserve Baccarat?
Woodford Reserve Baccarat is a special bourbon release from Brown-Foreman’s Woodford Reserve Brand. The distillery takes barrels of their Woodford Reserve bourbon, hand selected by Master Distiller Chris Morris, and aged for at least three seasons in XO Cognac casks. This Cognac finished whiskey is an extremely rare and limited release. Bottled at 90.4 Proof (45.2% ABV), Woodford Reserve Baccarat promises a delicate but complex sweet flavor, full of French Oak, candy, and fruits.
Baccarat, of course, refers to the maker of the find crystal decanter that this special Woodford Reserve comes in. Baccarat has been producing the finest crystal in France since 1764. From glassware, to decorations, to chandeliers, their crystal is famous across the world. It’s only fitting that this XO Cognac finished bourbon would be stored in a fancy Baccarat crystal decanter. It’s also likely where a lot of the price tag comes from.
Is Woodford Reserve Baccarat Edition Available in NC?
All signs point to some volume of Woodford Reserve Baccarat Edition being available in NC in Fall of 2020… as early as September. However, this is an extremely limited edition bottling and the bottles will be few and far between. There’s no telling which ABC Boards will be distributing these bottles, or how. If it’s anything like Buffalo Tracy Distillery’s O.F.C. release, they’ll pop up randomly, placed in nice glass cases. Ask your local ABC Store or Board to keep an eye out for it. Let them know you’re willing to drop $2,139.99 (after tax) at their store if they get it.
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]]>The post Pappy Van Winkle – Details and Availability appeared first on NC Whiskey.
]]>To some “Pappy” is the holy-grail of bourbon hunting. The Van Winkle limited releases from Buffalo Trace Distillery come out once each year in the fall and are highly rationed and allocated. The bustle is real, the competition is high, and the rewards are big. Continue reading to learn more about the Pappy Van Winkle lineup and how to snag a bottle if you live in North Carolina.
What is Pappy bourbon?
Believe it or not, there is some misunderstanding about what constitutes a Pappy. The Van Winkle line of special bourbons includes high end “Pappy Van Winkle” bottles, and the slightly more affordable Old Rip Van Winkle and Lot B. These latter two are technically not considered “Pappys,” but many still call them that. We’re going to treat this Pappy post as a full Van Winkle lineup post and include everything, but NC Whiskey does not endorse calling ORVW or Lot B “Pappy”.
The Van Winkle collection is mostly made up of specially aged and treated bourbon from the Original Wheated Bourbon mash bill, more commonly seen among the Weller line of products. The exception to this is, of course, the Van Winkle Rye. These whiskeys are priced based on age, proof, and availability. Let’s take a look.
The Van Winkle Collection
Old Rip Van Winkle
The first bourbon worth discussing the Van Winkle collection is Old Rip Van Winkle (ORVW). It’s the Wheated Mash Bill of Buffalo Trace Distillery, aged 10 years and bottled at 107 Proof (53.5% ABV).
Old Rip Van Winkle vs. Weller 107
If you’re at all familiar with Old Weller Antique 107, you’ve almost had ORVW. These two bourbons come from the same mash bill and are bottled at the same proof. The main difference is that Old Rip sat it barrels for several more years than OWA 107. These extra years mellow the heat a bit, and you’d find Old Rip Van Winkle to be a little more oaky/vanilla than its Weller younger brother.
This, in conjunction with a nicer label, a smaller allocation, and only an annual release, make it a much more coveted bourbon. But if you can’t get your hands on it at a reasonable price? Weller 107 will probably do.
Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year (aka Lot B)
Next up is Lot B, or Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year. Van Winkle’s 12 year aged bourbon is the same Wheated Mash Bill as ORVW, but aged two extra years and bottled at a lower 90.4 Proof (45.2% ABV).
Lot B vs. Weller 12
This one’s Weller counterpart is clearly Weller 12. They are the same age statement and basically the same proof, and the same mash bill. So… what’s the difference? The difference between Lot B and Weller 12 boils down to the barrels the juice comes out of. From what I’ve learned, Lot B gets the cream-of-the-crop barrels. Supposedly the barrels that go into the 12 Year Van Winkle Special Reserve are hand-picked for the smaller batch. The Weller 12 is a larger batch of less specific barrels.
It’s definitely worth hunting down a Lot B if you have the time and resources, but the quality-to-price ratio is likely better on the Weller 12 if you can find it at cost.
Van Winkle Family Reserve 13 Year Rye
This is a standout amongst the Van Winkle whiskeys. Clearly formed from its own exclusive Rye mash bill (presumable the same that gives us EH Taylor Rye), this 13 year aged “Family Reserve” is one of the rarer and more coveted in the collection. Bottled at 95.6 Proof (47.8% ABV), Van Winkle Family reserve is an easy rye with lots of good spice. You don’t have the full Van Winkle vertical without it, but you also won’t find much to compare it to.
Pappy Van Winkle 15 Year Bourbon
The first true Pappy, we know it’s the case because it actually has “Pappy” in the name. Don’t make the mistake of calling the previous items in the Van Winkle collection by this exclusive name.
Pappy Van Winkle 15 is a highly sought after release each year from Buffalo Trace Distillery. This bourbon uses the Van Winkle wheated mash bill and is aged for 15 years “in the heart of the aging warehouses.” Like Weller 107 and Old Rip Van Winkle, Pappy 15 is bottled at 107 Proof (53.5% ABV). But don’t let that fool you, these hand-picked, extra charred barrels and extra aging make this a smooth, oaky bourbon. This highlights the favorites of bourbons: caramel corn and vanilla with a complex palate of leather, wood, and oaked spiciness.
Pappy Van Winkle 20 Year Bourbon
The 20 year bourbon is quite similar in specs to the 15 year brother, but clearly has an extra five years of aging to its name. It has a lower proof, bottled near the Weller 12 and Lot B levels at 90.4 Proof (45.2% ABV). The lower proof plus the longer aging combine for one of the most buttery, easy-drinking bourbons on the marker (so I’m told, I’ve never had the pleasure). Tasting notes put a little citrus on the nose, with dried fruits on the tongue.
This is, of course, the other Pappy by name.
Pappy Van Winkle 23
Last, but certainly not least, is Pappy Van Winkle 23 Year. Similar to the 20 year version but with a few more years on it, these barrels are hand picked from the dead center of aging warehouses. It’s a little hotter in proof at 95.6 Proof (47.8% ABV). The 23 years lends toward a creamy, easy drinking bourbon that’s great for collecting and (hopefully) sipping.
Pappy Van Winkle 23 is exceedingly rare and special. I hope that if you can get your hands on it, you take the time to open and share it with someone special.
How to Buy Pappy Online
All of the bourbons in the Van Winkle collection are extremely rare bottlings. If you’re lucky enough to live in an ABC control state, you may be able to stumble upon a bottle in a lottery or list from your local liquor store — and you might find it at retail.
If you’ve had no luck finding this at reasonable prices in stores, you can probably find a bottle or two online for extremely high secondary prices. I’ve made it easy to shop some options below… if you want to pay for it. Check the price on these bottles with the links below:
Buy Pappy In North Carolina
My local NC shoppers will have a real tough time finding this in stores. Your absolute best bet to get a Pappy from your local ABC store is to make friends with the employees (ideally a manager) and be a loyal customer. Keep an eye on the NC ABC warehouse stock (join our email list for updates) and let the manager of your store or ABC board know when they should try to order this stuff. Small boards will be lucky to get a bottle.
They can clue you in on their distribution policies. Most ABC boards in North Carolina will hold something like Pappy back for a lottery. Others still operate on a “who you know” policy, so being a loyal customer and friend can help you score a bottle at retail. These relationships might take years to build, though.
Pappy Cigars and Other Merchandise
If you can’t get a hold of Pappy Bourbon, you can still enjoy the brand with their Cigars and cool merchandise. Visit Pappy Co. to see all the official Van Winkle collection of Barrel-Fermented Pappy Van Winkle Cigars, hats, t-shirts, ties, and more!
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