Pappy Van Winkle Family Reserve 23 year Bourbon Straight Whiskey
When first approached by Buffalo Trace, Julian III was honored, but not immediately interested. He had ample bourbon aging, but the concern was for future reserves, since by this time, bourbon was increasing in popularity. Buffalo Trace bought the W.L. Weller label in 1999 and had been making the bourbon with nearly the same recipe as Pappy’s. The transition was easy. As of May 2002, Buffalo Trace has produced the Van Winkle bourbons, using Pappy’s exact recipe. This change allows Old Rip Van Winkle to maintain their strict quality standards while producing more barrels for future enjoyment.
It’s no longer home to the family business, but Pappy Van Winkle’s original 1935 Stitzel-Weller Distillery is still there, now owned by a multinational beverage company and used as a tourist stop for the Bulleit Frontier Whiskey brand. A plaque bearing Pappy’s mantra remains on the grounds: “We make fine bourbon, at a profit if we can, at a loss if we must, but always fine bourbon.” As “Pappyland” makes clear, the profit and loss are part of life, and yes, the bourbon is always fine.
Varietal: Bourbon
Vintage: 23 yr
Rating: 100 RP
Bottle Size: 750 ml
Bottle Quantity: 1
Country: USA
Region: USA
Location: Kentucky
Producer: Pappy Van Winkle
Type Whiskey: Bourbon
Robert Parker
100 RP – This is the legendary Kentucky bourbon that is the Château Latour of bourbons. Pure perfection, it is nearly impossible to find and retailers hate to have even a couple of bottles because it creates problems for them given the demand. Truth be told, it is everything one would want in a bourbon. With a deep amber color, it is one of the darkest of the Kentucky bourbons and boasts a strikingly intense, room-filling smorgasbord of aromas ranging from subtle smoky wood, caramelized orange rind, maple syrup, molasses, crème brûlée and cappuccino/coffee-like smell. Full and rich with profound sweetness, persistence and no hint of harshness or angularity, this prodigious bourbon could sit alongside the finest cognacs ever produced. It offers a remarkable tasting experience …to be sipped, savored and like all the top bourbons, never diluted or served on ice.
See a deep amber red. Taste the various hints of caramel, ripe apples, cherries, oak wood and tobacco with a hint of chocolate. This bourbon finishes with a long-lasting and pleasant taste. Starts with a lot of wood flavors but leads to a nice sweet caramel finish.
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