Pappy Van Winkle

Riverwarrior

Riverwarrior

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This past weekend, I visited my local beer/whiskey store to see what was new. I left the craft beer section and made my way to the bourbon isle. A staff member approached me and stated they just received some "Van Winkle 12 Year Special Reserve". I asked if they had any "Pappy Van Winkle 15 or 20 Year", and he stated they never get that. I laughed and said it would be pointless to ask about the "23 Year". Upon that, he left and went into the manager's office and returned with the elusive PVW "23 Year" bottle. He made it very clear that I couldn't touch it, but I could read the bottle. I don't think he appreciated my humor when I asked if he could pop the top just so I could take a sniff....from a distance of course......:D

I did, however, buy the "Van Winkle 12 Year". WOW, this one is exceptional. Big caramel, vanilla, and oak flavors with a great mouthfeel and finish. This one just went to the top of my bourbon list. I'm hoping to try the "15 or 20" year reserves soon.

Sorry for the excitement....but, as many of you know, it doesn't get much better than bourbon and Busse....:thumbup:
 

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Our local BevMo just received the 12, 15, 20, and 23 Year varieties. I have some of each.
 
Ah Bourbon! The elixir of life. :D

I'm going to be on the prowl for that one. :)
 
I had a chance to enjoy one of these in July with my dad:

orvw-23yr-114proof.jpg


Here is the ad for it:

orvw-decanter-2009.jpg


Needless to say, it was superb, and was thoroughly enjoyed.
 
I had been told I couldn't get any Van Winkle in the state.

The liquor commission just started a new online product search and found 10, 12, 15, and 20 year available just down the street from my work!

Gonna have to get me some.
 
I'm on a hunt for some 15 this year. I totally brain-fizzled and forgot to get on the reserve list at my local distributor.
 
That Pappy sounds good. . . .

My brother Dan just picked up something called White Dog. . . 125 proof!!!!

Spooky!!!:eek:


Jerry :D



,.
 
Guyon said:
I'm on a hunt for some 15 this year. I totally brain-fizzled and forgot to get on the reserve list at my local distributor.
Click to expand...

I can order one 15YO for myself from UK for about EUR 100 with shipping included. Is it a good price compared the prices in US ?

But I don't want to buy it before I have Battle Pappy in my hand (hopefully).
 
Jerry, you wrote:
My brother Dan just picked up something called White Dog. . . 125 proof!!!!

Spooky!!!:eek:
Click to expand...
I picked up a case of it earlier this year, and have gone through three or four bottles thus far. I like it.

The wet bar in my office includes a bottle that I am working on. :thumbup:
 
Riverwarrior said:
Lunde,

Which of the 4 (12, 15, 20, 23) is your favorite....and why?

Thanks.
Click to expand...

I'm not Lunde, of course, but I'm a big Van Winkle drinker and have been for a few years now, and I've had each variety a bunch, and stock a bunch of them in my home bar, and my faves of theirs (in order of preference and totally independent of price) are:

* 15yr Bourbon "Pappy 15"
* 13yr Rye "Van Winkle Rye"
* 12yr Bourbon "Lot B"
* 20yr Bourbon "Pappy 20"
* 10yr/107proof "ORVW 10/107"
* 10yr/90proof "ORVW 10/90"
* 23yr Bourbon "Pappy 23"

I've never tasted a Bourbon (or any other alcohol for that matter) that I like better than Pappy 15, and I've had nearly everything out there. It's just the right mix of spice and heat.

I could live the rest of my life and drink no other Bourbon, if I had to. Frankly, if all I ever had to drink (of any sort of alcohol) for the rest of my life was Pappy 15 and the Van Winkle Rye I'd be elated.

As for why? Well, I've literally bought and drank at least one bottle of pretty much every Bourbon available today, and several that are no longer available, and it's just the one that speaks to me more than all others.
 
White Dog, IIRC, is just un-aged Bourbon (post still, pre barrel), or perhaps very lightly aged - I forget. Maybe it varies (White Dog from Buffalo Trace vs another Distillery)?

I couldn't get into it. It's like one sucked nearly all the flavor away and just left the heat. It's largely the addition of the barrel-aging that makes Whiskey delicious, to me.

I do think it's interesting, being able to see what it tastes like at that stage, but I'll leave the drinking of it to others; a few tastes over the years were enough for me.

;)
 
DowntownDM said:
I'm not Lunde, of course, but I'm a big Van Winkle drinker and have been for a few years now, and I've had each variety a bunch, and stock a bunch of them in my home bar, and my faves of theirs (in order of preference and totally independent of price) are:

* 15yr Bourbon "Pappy 15"
* 13yr Rye "Van Winkle Rye"
* 12yr Bourbon "Lot B"
* 20yr Bourbon "Pappy 20"
* 10yr/107proof "ORVW 10/107"
* 10yr/90proof "ORVW 10/90"
* 23yr Bourbon "Pappy 23"

I've never tasted a Bourbon (or any other alcohol for that matter) that I like better than Pappy 15, and I've had nearly everything out there. It's just the right mix of spice and heat.

I could live the rest of my life and drink no other Bourbon, if I had to. Frankly, if all I ever had to drink (of any sort of alcohol) for the rest of my life was Pappy 15 and the Van Winkle Rye I'd be elated.

As for why? Well, I've literally bought and drank at least one bottle of pretty much every Bourbon available today, and several that are no longer available, and it's just the one that speaks to me more than all others.
Click to expand...


Thanks so much for the information. That's just the info I was looking for. I'm hoping that in the near future my local store will get some "Pappy 15", but I'll probably just have to order some via the internet. Thanks again.
 
DowntownDM is spot-on. The 15 Year stuff is outstanding. In fact, I picked up another bottle this morning. If you can find it, local or elsewhere, snap up a bottle or two.
 
Hey guys, what is the 15 year going for in your area?
 
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