It arrived a little later this year, so perhaps you were getting worried that you had been a bit too naughty and Whiskey Santa wasn’t going to bring you this present. But it’s time to breathe a deep sigh of relief because the details about the 2024 Pappy Van Winkle collection have arrived, and we have the details to share.
If you know what whiskey is and you have a pulse, you are certainly familiar with Pappy. But just in case, here’s a short primer. The Old Rip Van Winkle Distillery is the company behind this famed whiskey, a family-owned venture that has been in the business for four generations starting with the namesake Julian P. “Pappy” Van Winkle, Sr. in the 1800s. He eventually became one half of the Stitzel-Weller Distillery post-Prohibition, where brands like W.L. Weller, Old Fitzgerald, and Rebel Yell were produced. His son, Julian, Jr., took over after his death, eventually selling the distillery in the early ’70s and starting the Old Rip Van Winkle label. Julian III took over in 1981 and, along with his son Preston, have produced the Pappy Van Winkle lineup in partnership with Buffalo Trace since 2002 using the signature, defining wheated mashbill.
Over the past 15 years or so, Pappy Van Winkle has skyrocketed in popularity and become a cult phenomenon, although some whiskey drinkers have cooled on the brand a bit over the past few years (and some bar owners have ensured that they would be cut off). That’s not because of the quality of the whiskey, which is still fantastic even if the older expressions tend to be on the oaky side, but just because of the hype. Pappy is good whiskey, even great whiskey, but with so many other options out there it can be hard to justify the price it commands on the secondary market unless you are the most dedicated collector.
This year the suggested retail prices are higher than past years, but still far from what they will really sell for, ranging from $130 for the 10-year-old to $450 for the 23-year-old. The Van Winkle family points out in a press release that neither they nor Buffalo Trace control secondary pricing, and the best way to find Pappy at its SRP is through lotteries offered by some retailers. “Ultimately, the only legal and reputable source consumers should be buying from is a licensed retailer,” said Julian P. Van Winkle III in a statement. “This is the safest, foolproof way to ensure your bottle is not counterfeit”–another problem the brand has faced in recent years.
This year’s collection will include the five classic bourbons and one rye: Old Rip Van Winkle Handmade Bourbon 10-Year-Old (107 proof, oak, tobacco, and sweet fruit on the palate); Old Rip Van Winkle Special Reserve Bourbon 12-Year-Old (90.4 proof, notes of honey, oak, and tobacco); Old Rip Van Winkle Family Reserve Rye 13-Year-Old (95.6 proof, notes of chocolate, spice, and caramel); Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve Bourbon 15-Year-Old (107 proof, leather, oak, and dark fruit on the palate); Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve Bourbon 20-Year-Old (90.4 proof, caramel, cinnamon sugar, and subtle spice notes); and Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve Bourbon 23-Year-Old (95.6 proof, vanilla, maple, honey, and oak on the palate).
According to Buffalo Trace, there is more 20 and 23-year-old bourbon available this year than in previous years, which is good news for Pappy fans, but that still doesn’t mean these bottles will be easy to find. If you’re ready to start the hunt, go talk to your local liquor store to find out when it is getting bottles (if it is indeed getting them), or check websites like ReserveBar or Caskers to find one now (be sure to check to see what year they are offering).
