Surplus Pappy: Buffalo Trace says it has more Van Winkle bourbons this year
Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort has announced the 2024 release of the Van Winkle Whiskey collection, which includes the coveted Pappy Van Winkle bourbons.
And this year, there’s some big news: more Pappy.
According to the Kentucky distillery, this year’s release includes a surplus of two of the oldest Pappy Van Winkle bottles “due to an exceptional yield from those barrels.”
Details on Van Winkle bottles
The collection is on shelves now in stores, bars and restaurants at varying retail prices. It includes:
▪ Old Rip Van Winkle Handmade Bourbon 10-Year-Old, suggested price $129.99, 107 proof, with a nose of oak and spice with hints of licorice and dark cherry. On the palate, deep flavors of oak, tobacco and sweet fruit with a long finish with notes of dark cherry and soft tobacco, according to the tasting notes.
▪ Old Rip Van Winkle Special Reserve Bourbon 12-Year-Old, $149.99, a 90.4 proof bourbon with a nose of ripe stone fruit and chocolate, and on the palate is honey, oak and tobacco with a slightly dry finish, according to the tasting notes.
▪ Old Rip Van Winkle Family Reserve Rye 13-Year-Old, $199.99, 95.6 proof rye with a nose of roasted nuts, oaky vanilla and ripe fruit. On the palate, you get chocolate and spice with caramel and oak and a finish of baking spices and roasted caramel.
▪ Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve Bourbon 15-Year-Old, $199.99, 107 proof with a nose of caramel corn and vanilla. On the palate, it’s sweet with notes of leather, oak and dark fruit and a finish of spice and oaky tannins.
▪ Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve Bourbon 20-Year-Old, $319.99, 90.4 proof with a nose of holiday spices, caramel and chocolate. On the palate, you get caramel, cinnamon sugar and spice with a slightly dry and oaky finish.
▪ Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve Bourbon 23-Year-Old, $449.99, 95.6 proof with a nose of toasty caramel, soft cream and oak, nuts and leather. On the palate, vanilla, maple and honey meet citrus and spice with a lingering dry finish with notes of leather and oak.
“There’s an incomparable feeling of joy that comes from finding a bottle of Pappy on the shelf,” said Julian Van Winkle III, President, Old Rip Van Winkle Distillery, in the news release. “This season, we’re excited that connoisseurs have a greater chance to enjoy our older expressions, thanks to an exceptional yield from these barrels.”
Where to buy, not to buy Pappy
The truth is you’re unlikely to run across a bottle just sitting on the shelf in your favorite liquor store, because even with the “surplus,” the supply is limited and far exceeds demand.
The best chance to find Van Winkle products at a fair price is through lotteries offered by many retailers, where consumers can purchase bottles at retail prices.
“Ultimately, the only legal and reputable source consumers should be buying from is a licensed retailer,” Van Winkle said in the release. “This is the safest, foolproof way to ensure your bottle is not counterfeit.”
Purchasing from secondary markets and online sellers including Craigslist, eBay, and social media groups increases the risk of buying a fake bottle.
Whiskey buyers who believe they have been scammed should not drink out of their bottle, Buffalo Trace said in the release. They should also file a complaint with the Better Business Bureau, contact their State Attorney General’s office, and contact their credit card company about its fraud protection policies.
This story was originally published December 12, 2024 at 12:40 PM.
