Old Rip Van Winkle Distillery

Such a great distillery! Conveniently located near UK’s college campus in Lexington, KY. We had a great tour guide and took the tasting tour, which included some liquor flights. Great to know this distillery is only about 2 hours south of Cincinnati, so it makes for a great day trip with family and friends!

Most of my favorite spirits came from great recommendations from bartenders that know great products. I was at a whiskey bar in East Hollywood called, Harvard & Stone, a few years ago where we asked for something great. Bartender said we had to try Pappy Van Winkle, 20 year Family Reserve Bourbon. It was a bit pricey but it was worth it. I could drink this by itself neat all day. This bourbon is very smooth with hints of citrus, sherry, dried fruits, and vanilla. Aged for 20 years and 90.4 proof. This bourbon is considered to be top notch bourbon whiskey in the word rated 99 points out of 100. This brand has deep roots of history from the 1800’s which has established a great tradition of spirits. Most definitely worth a try if you are a whiskey is your drink of choice.

So we found a bottle it cost us $ 250.00 and I could hardly wait to have a toast with my brother… Well, let me say that it is not that smooth and over rated for what the after market price is… I am spreading the word about this stuff and looking for better. I think that we can find something not so costly for our hard earned money. Rest in peace Van Winkle whiskey…

Pappy Van Winkle is one of those products that has way less production than there is demand. Now it’s not a particularly expensive product, it’s just a really damn good one. Like a Mikkeler beer, they don’t actually have their own facilities but have resulted in being made at the Buffalo Trace Distillery. The places that I know that carry it will get maybe a bottle or a case at some random time in the fall and if you happen to be around to find it, it will get snapped up right quick. Any place that has a waiting list will be on something like a couple years. That’s crazy. However, the finer bars and restaurants may carry a decent stock and a trip to the Aviary in Chicago recently re-​acquainted me with how good the stuff is. I helped finish the last of the 20yr and they were kind enough to bonus me some of their 23yr just because the last pour of 20 was short. Hot damn. Well it was every bit as good as I remembered it. If you like bourbon, you best do yourself to try a wheated version like that of the current Pappy’s. you wont be sorry.