Tornado relief online bourbon auction offers Pappy, Buffalo Trace Antique flights
Buffalo Trace knows a thing or two about tornadoes and recovering from them.
On April 2, 2006, a near-tornado damaged two bourbon warehouses, ripping part of the roof off of one built in 1885. Ironically perhaps, the bourbon in the barrels there turned out to be terrific and resulted in a much-coveted release, the E.H. Taylor Jr. Warehouse C Tornado Surviving bottles.
Now the Frankfort distillery is pitching in to help Western Kentucky recover from the Dec. 10-11 tornadoes with a once-in-a-lifetime auction.
They are offering a full six-bottle flight of Pappy Van Winkle, including the rye, and a full flight of their much-sought Buffalo Trace Antique Collection, including a 2020 George T. Stagg.
The distillery has never offered a full flight of these at once before, although sometimes charitable auctions do collect the bottles and offer them together.
“The toll these tornadoes and severe weather took on our fellow Kentuckians and others in the Midwest and South is shocking,” said Mark Brown, chief executive officer, Buffalo Trace Distillery, which is owned by Sazerac. “We hope our bourbon community, who we know can be very generous, really shows its support and we’re able to raise an unheralded amount of funds for Western Kentucky disaster relief.”
Although Sazerac’s operations were not impacted by the storms, the company said that some team members have experienced tragedy in their extended families, including loss of life.
The money raised will go to the Red Cross’s Western Kentucky Disaster Relief efforts.
The online auction goes live Dec. 20 at 9 a.m. and runs through Dec. 23 at 7 p.m.
The Van Winkle Collection package includes Old Rip Van Winkle 10 year old, Van Winkle 12 year old “Lot B,” Van Winkle Family Reserve Rye, Pappy Van Winkle 15 year old, Pappy Van Winkle 20 year and Pappy Van Winkle 23 year old. The auction winners will have the option to have the set autographed by Julian and Preston Van Winkle.
The Antique Collection package includes William Larue Weller, Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Rye, Eagle Rare 17 Year Old, Sazerac Rye 18 Year Old and a 2020 George. T. Stagg (130.4 proof). The auction winners will have the option to have the set autographed by Master Distiller Harlen Wheatley and Buffalo Trace President and Chief Executive Officer Mark Brown.
Go to Proxibid.com/Menish-Productions/Buffalo-Trace-Benefit-Auction/event-catalog/213782 for more information and to bid.
Online bourbon, barrel auction continues
The Buffalo Trace auction isn’t the only effort: The Kentucky Distillers’ Association, whiskey expert Fred Minnick and a group called the Bourbon Crusaders also are auctioning off rare, vintage and unique bottles and experiences in a separate fund-raiser that will end Dec. 21 at 10 p.m.
You can bid on those bottles at kybourbonbenefit.com. More items are go up online daily.
In the first day, Dec. 16 raised over $400,000, according to a news release.
“The outpouring of support from people across the country along with our own Kentucky distillers is beyond expectations,” said Eric Gregory, president of the Kentucky Distillers’ Association.
This story was originally published December 19, 2021 at 6:00 AM.
