Pappy Van Winkle Family Reserve Bourbon Whiskey is distilled by Buffalo Trace, but follows an old formula and process created by the Van Winkle family over several generations.
The Family Reserve line includes 15, 20 and 23 year old vintages. The whiskey is aged in oak barrels, and uses wheat rather than the more common rye. The results are a remarkably smooth, somewhat sweet bourbon whiskey.
Aged bourbon is not that common, due to the fact the while a barrel will initially hold 30 cases of whiskey, it will evaporate over time. Van Winkle Distillery says their 23 year old vintage will only yield seven cases due to the evaporation that occurs in the aging process.
Finding a Van Winkle bourbon can be difficult – since they only produce about 7,000 cases annually.
The hard-to-find limited edition 23 year old vintage can run between $200-250, while the 20 year will cost around $120 or more, and the 15 year about $60-70.
Pappy Van Winkle Family Reserve Bourbon Whiskey is a wonderful special treat for the bourbon lover.