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Kentucky ABC to auction confiscated whiskey
Kentucky’s Department of Alcohol Beverage Control (ABC) will host its first auction featuring confiscated bottles of whiskey, such as Old Rip Van Winkle.
The first online confiscated alcohol auction opened on 27 November and will close at midnight on 11 December.
The auction is possible thanks to a new state law, House Bill 439, allowing products confiscated from closed criminal investigations conducted by Kentucky’s ABC to be auctioned.
The auction includes 32 bottles of alcohol, including two bottles of Old Rip Van Winkle 10-year-old, a Blanton’s Single Barrel Gold in a box with Japanese markings, and a ‘stock the bar’ bundle that includes bottles of wine, vodka, rum and Jim Beam Vanilla.
Other expressions on offer include a bottle of Four Roses Small Batch Barrel Strength 2011, Old Forester ‘Prohibition Repeal’ Gift Set 75th Anniversary, Weller Antique 107, EH Taylor Small Batch, and Eagle Rare 10 Year Old.
The full list of items is available on the auction site. Winning bidders must pick up items in Frankfort, Kentucky.
All proceeds will be donated to responsibility programmes like Project Prom and Project Graduation.
Allyson Taylor, commissioner of ABC, said: “We are proud to help finance educational programmes that promote responsible alcohol use by adults and awareness programmes for youth, including Project Prom and Project Graduation. We look forward to seeing the response to this auction and have started planning additional auctions for 2025.”
In April this year, Kentucky governor Andy Beshear signed House Bill 439, expanding the Malt Beverage Education Corporation, which funded Project Prom and Project Graduation events, to become the Alcohol Wellness and Responsibility Education Corporation (Aware) board.
The Aware board’s mission is to provide grants to Kentucky high schools, colleges, universities and outside organisations to support alcohol responsibility programmes.
Reflecting on the news this month, crimes involving alcohol seem to be on the rise. After crossing to the US at the Mexico border, two trucks containing Santo Tequila were stolen, resulting in a loss of US$1 million.
In the UK, six people were arrested on suspicion of stealing approximately £53,000 (US$66,600) worth of spirits from Sloemotion Distillery.
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