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Van Winkle Collection returns with extra bottles
Old Rip Van Winkle and Buffalo Trace have released the annual Van Winkle Collection, which includes additional bottles of 20- and 23-year-old whiskeys.
Pappy Van Winkle is known for its wheated Bourbon recipe, favoured by Julian Prentice ‘Pappy’ Van Winkle Sr, which is described to ‘result in a softer, smoother taste profile’.
In addition to Bourbon, the range also includes a 13-year-old rye whiskey.
For the 2024 collection, the producer has announced a surplus of 20- and 23-year-old Family Reserve Bourbons.
Julian Van Winkle III, president of Old Rip Van Winkle Distillery, commented: “There’s an incomparable feeling of joy that comes from finding a bottle of Pappy on the shelf. This season, we’re excited that connoisseurs have a greater chance to enjoy our older expressions, thanks to an exceptional yield from these barrels.”
The 2024 collection is now available in stores, bars and restaurants across the US with varying retail prices.
Bottled at 53.5% ABV, Old Rip Van Winkle Handmade Bourbon 10-year-old has a manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) of US$129.99.
Other expressions under the Van Winkle label include 12-year-old Special Reserve Bourbon, offered at 45.2% ABV with an MSRP of US$149.99, and a 13-year-old Family Reserve Rye, bottled at 47.8% ABV for US$199.99.
The Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve range offers three expressions: 15-year-old at 53.5% ABV with an MSRP of US$199.99, 20-year-old at 45.2% ABV retailing for US$319.99, and 23-year-old with 47.8% ABV and an MSRP of US$449.99.
Stay safe
The Van Winkle family reiterated that neither they nor Buffalo Trace Distillery have control over the prices that individual retailers set for their products.
According to the producer, the best opportunity to find Van Winkle items at a ‘fair price’ is through lotteries run by many retailers, where consumers can purchase bottles from the collection at the MSRP.
Van Winkle III continued: “Ultimately, the only legal and reputable source consumers should be buying from is a licensed retailer. This is the safest, fool-proof way to ensure your bottle is not counterfeit.”
Due to the whiskey’s popularity, fans increase their risk of purchasing counterfeit bottles by purchasing from secondary markets and online sellers, including Craigslist, eBay, and social media groups.
According to Van Winkle, many alcohol scams take place overseas, and while rare in the US, in some cases, consuming the ‘alcohol’ can lead to bodily harm and even casualties.
To stay safe, the producer wants to remind whiskey buyers who believe they have been scammed not to drink the bottle. 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.
In 2022, a bottle of Pappy Van Winkle 23-year-old Family Reserve released in 2008 fetched US$52,000 at a Sotheby’s auction in New York.
In October 2024, a private barrel release of Van Winkle 18-year-old Bourbon for Binny’s shattered the record for the ’most expensive Bourbon ever auctioned’ at US$107,715.
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