Pappy Van Winkle Bourbon

Pappy Van Winkle is produced by Buffalo Trace Distillery under the Old Rip Van Winkle Distillery label. It is a wheated bourbon, meaning it replaces rye with wheat in the mash bill, resulting in a softer, smoother, and more caramel-forward flavor. Due to its limited production, high demand, and rarity, Pappy Van Winkle bottles are among the most coveted bourbons worldwide.

Popular Pappy Van Winkle Expressions:

✔ Old Rip Van Winkle 10-Year – A rich, wheated bourbon with sweet vanilla, honey, and oak spice, bottled at 107 proof.
✔ Van Winkle Special Reserve 12-Year (“Lot B”) – A balanced and elegant bourbon with toffee, dried fruit, and caramel notes, bottled at 90.4 proof.
✔ Pappy Van Winkle 15-Year – Aged for 15 years, offering deep flavors of dark cherry, leather, and oak spice, with a long, smooth finish (107 proof).
✔ Pappy Van Winkle 20-Year – Extra-aged for richness, bringing out intense flavors of vanilla, molasses, and charred oak, bottled at 90.4 proof.
✔ Pappy Van Winkle 23-Year – The pinnacle of the collection, aged 23 years, offering exceptional depth with flavors of tobacco, dark chocolate, and toasted oak, bottled at 95.6 proof.

Tasting Notes (Typical Profile):

✔ Nose: Vanilla, caramelized sugar, dried fruit, and aged oak.
✔ Palate: Smooth and rich, with waves of caramel, butterscotch, nutmeg, and dark chocolate.
✔ Finish: Exceptionally long and warm, with lingering oak spice and velvety sweetness.

Pappy Van Winkle is best enjoyed neat or with a few drops of water to unlock its full complexity. Due to its scarcity and high secondary market value, it’s often considered a luxury bourbon and collector’s item.