Annual Pappy bourbon drop includes auction of oldest Van Winkle release

Buffalo Trace and Old Rip Van Winkle Distillery have announced the annual Pappy Van Winkle bourbon drop.

But this bourbon is so coveted, you will probably never see a bottle on the shelves of your local store.

The distillery did not release any information about quantity this year, unlike 2024, when there allegedly was a bigger supply. But the legendary whiskey did not seem to be any more available for the average fan.

According to the announcement, the 2025 Van Winkle Collection will be made available to stores, bars and restaurants across the U.S. in limited quantities.

The Van Winkle family and Buffalo Trace took the pointed step of reminding fans that they don’t control the prices, and they discouraged enthusiasts from buying from anyone except a licensed retailer to avoid scams and potential fakes.

Pappy Van Winkle 2025 releases

There are six expressions:

• Old Rip Van Winkle Handmade Bourbon 10 Year Old, $149.99 suggested retail price. According to the tasting notes, it has a nose of vanilla, caramel, pecan, seasoned oak, warm tobacco and charred wood. On the palate it’s smooth and rich with wheat, cherry, bold oak, and a hint of spice, leading to a long, smoky finish layered with oak, dark vanilla, and lingering warmth.
• Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Old, $169.99 suggested retail price. According to the tasting notes, it has a nose of oak, dried mango, cocoa, and spiced peach, mingled with cherry and vanilla. On the palate, it’s honey, tobacco, and dark fruit, evolving into stone fruit and cocoa, with a dry, balanced finish lingers with oak, cherry, and gentle spice.
• Van Winkle Family Reserve Rye 13 Year Old, $229.99 suggested retail price. The tasting notes are roasted chestnut, vanilla, and subtle spice that is deepened by cherry, stone fruit, and warming oak. On the palate, it has layers of cocoa, white pepper, and vanilla that meet a bold infusion of cherry and ripe stone fruits, balanced by oak and cedar, with a long, warm finish that lingers with caramel, spice, and dry oak.
• Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve 15 Year Old, $239.99 suggested retail price. According to the tasting notes, it has a nose of brown sugar, caramel corn, and vanilla, mingled with wood and a hint of cherry. On the palate, it’s leather, oak, dark fruit, brown sugar and cherry with a long, dry finish that leaves lingering spice, oak tannins, and a warming touch of fruit and sugar.
• Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve 20 Year Old, $359.99 suggested retail price. According to the tasting notes, it has a nose of citrus zest and dried fruit, plum and cherry. On the palate, it’s smooth citrus, vanilla, juicy stone fruit and hints of sherry, with a long, elegant, and fruit-kissed finish whispers of plum, cherry, and warm spice.
• Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve 23 Year Old, $499.99 suggested retail price. According to the tasting notes, it has a nose of rich caramel and cream, oak, leather, and a hit of ripe cherry. On the palate, it’s vanilla, honey, and maple, with a burst of cherry and a warming heat. The finish is long, oaky, and fruit-laced, leaving behind notes of spice, sweetness, and the satisfying heat of a stronger pour.

What makes Pappy so special?

In part, it’s that rarity, as well as the reputation for a superior product that dates back to the historic Stitzel-Weller whiskeys made in Louisville, although all of today’s supply is made at Buffalo Trace in Frankfort. A lot of it is just the mystique: It was beloved by the late Anthony Bourdain and spirits writers who elevated it beyond its peers to cult status.

“Those who follow this release year after year know it’s not just about whiskey, but about what it represents,” said Julian P. Van Winkle III, President of the Old Rip Van Winkle Distillery, in the news release. “This whiskey collection is a reflection of our family’s legacy and a tribute to the generations who came before us. The legacy, combined with anticipation, the stories shared over a pour, the appreciation for extended aging — that is what makes each release so special.”

“As always, each release represents years of quiet work, careful aging and a deep respect for the legacy we carry forward,” said Preston Van Winkle, fourth generation, Old Rip Van Winkle Distillery, in a news release. “We’ve taken great care to ensure the quality of this year’s release lives up to the Van Winkle name. We’re proud to share this whiskey with those who appreciate the craft, patience and tradition that go into every bottle.”

Rare Pappy bottle up for auction

But there is something special this year: One bottle of Old Rip Van Winkle 25 Year Old, the oldest and rarest expression ever released under the label. The bottle was originally filled in its hand-engraved Glencairn crystal decanter in 2017.

Bottle #706, which had been tucked away at Buffalo Trace Distillery, will be auctioned through Legacy de Forge, a new global platform to improve access to Sazerac’s most coveted spirits, this September, along with a private tasting with Julian Van Winkle.

According to a news release, Legacy de Forge’s September Bourbon Heritage Month Auction will offer eight lots in total, including O.F.C 2006; the newly-released Colonel E.H. Taylor Distiller’s Council; and a Stagg Single Barrel pick. Bidding opened at 10 a.m. ET on Sept. 10, 2025, and will close at 10 a.m. ET on Sept. 24, 2025. For more information and to bid, go to legacydeforge.com/release/bourbon-heritage-month-2025.

This story was originally published September 11, 2025 at 8:54 AM.

Janet Patton

Lexington Herald-Leader

859-379-5233

Janet Patton covers restaurants, bars, food and bourbon for the Herald-Leader. She is an award-winning business reporter who also has covered agriculture, gambling, horses and hemp. Support my work with a digital subscription