With bourbon season officially here, the time has come for bourbon aficionados to begin the annual hunt for Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve. One of the most sought-after bourbons in the world, only about 8,000 bottles are produced every year, making them very difficult to get your hands on. Thus, the popular Pappy Van Winkle hunt begins this time every year.
The History of Pappy Van Winkle
The Old Rip Van Winkle brand began with Julian “Pappy” Van Winkle in the late 1890’s. The brand began with a simple philosophy: product over profit. That mission has continued throughout the history of the brand, which has now passed from family member to family member. Throughout the more than 100 year history of Old Rip Van Winkle, they have always maintained the reputation for producing the finest bourbon in the business.
Aging Process
Distilled at the Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, KY, the Pappy Van Winkle Family Reserve collection comes in three distinct variations: a 15-Year-Old, 20-Year-Old, and 23-Year-Old Bottle. This level of aging is what truly sets Pappy Van Winkle apart and is also why there is such a small amount available every year.
The Pappy Van Winkle Hunt
Every year at around roughly this time of the year, Pappy Van Winkle begins to distribute the Family Reserve collection. Due to the limited supply, bourbon aficionados keep an ear to the floor to find out how and where you can buy a bottle of this fine bourbon. The release is actually so limited that there are map trackers and blogs dedicated to where bottles of Pappy Van Winkle bottles appear.
Bottles of Pappy Van Winkle have already been spotted in North Carolina and Tennessee, so the hunt is on for 2018! As one of the best bourbon bars in Lexington, we keep up with news in the whiskey space at Whiskey Bear and the annual hunt for Pappy Van Winkle is one of those events that we look forward to every year!
