The Pappy VanWinkle is in

So, for Christmas, I got 15 yr. old Pappy, 20 yr. old Pappy, George T. Stagg and a Great Lebowski bowling shirt. Did I do okay for my baby boy?

I hope you remembered that I went up a size this year.............Mom.

Moral of the story... be creative in your search and poke every mom and pop liquor shop in town. Sometimes, the stores that specialize in plastic travelers of rot gut will surprise you with a hidden gem on the shelf.

-Pete

Spot on advice. Thanks, Pete!

On my lunch break today I walked over to a package liquor store downtown. Specifically, the kind of store where all the spirits are kept behind the counter.

The clerk was pricing bottles on the counter, and when I asked for Pappy's he said I was looking at it. They had two bottles each of 10, 15, 20 and 23-year.

I chose the 15 year old Family Reserve and tootled off down the street with my brown paper bag.

Now I just got home and poured a wee dram of the stuff. Lovely color, very spirit-y nose. Taking a sip it seems to bite the tongue a bit. Maybe this is because I'm getting over a cold. Should I be adding water?

Glad you were able to score a bottle. I like mine with just a splash of water to open it up a little.

I try to get a bottle of 15 yr. every time it comes in.

The 20 yr. is fantastic. I've never bought an entire bottle, but I had a few at dinner last New Year's Eve. I spent more on bourbon that night than I did on food.

If anyone is still in the market...I stopped at "Liquor World" next to Krogers at Hwy 146 and Old La Grange Rd. today (about 3pm)...They had (displayed) one bottle of 12 y.o ($51) and four bottles of 23 y.o. ($224). Not sure if that is their entire stock or not.

I hate when people tell others how to enjoy themselves, but I am a huge hypocrite when it comes to sharing my fine bourbon.

I am a stickler for drinking it straight up, and will MAYBE allow an ice cube or the tiniest splash of water, but only do so begrudgingly.

Typing it out and reading it has made me think that maybe I shouldn't be such a dick.

I'm an on-the-rocks in the summer, straight up in the winter type. I drink more bourbon in the winter and beer in the summer.

I like bourbon in bourbon balls, chocolate pie, in a sauce, you name it....except to drink it...yuk. People give to me as gifts all the time...and we cook with it. Maybe that 23 y/o Pappy would make a kick-ass BBQ sauce.

Maybe that 23 y/o Pappy would make a kick-ass BBQ sauce.

Scored my 15 year old today. Wow, that sounds bad.

I had to go out today and buy a bottle of (107 proof) 10 y.o Van Winkle, just so I wouldn't be tempted to abuse the 15 y.o. Pappy. That 15 y.o. is some good stuff neighbors.

Scored my 15 year old today. Wow, that sounds bad.

Is this your first experience with 15 y.o ?

John Johnson up at the Wine Rack on Frankfort Ave. just got in his allotment of Pappy. He said the 15 year was already spoken for/sold but he still has the 10, 12, 20, 23 as well as the Rye. He also has a couple bottles of the Four Roses Barrel Strength Select that was picked out by the guys at Bourbons Bistro, as well as a couple bottles of the 100th Anniversary Barrel Select.

He said next week he's also getting in the Woodford Reserve Masters Collection Maple Wood Finish, which I believe is the only release of the year.

So there.....

John Johnson up at the Wine Rack on Frankfort Ave. just got in his allotment of Pappy. He said the 15 year was already spoken for/sold but he still has the 10, 12, 20, 23 as well as the Rye.

Just to clarify the product line, as it seems to cause confusion.

The Old Rip Van Winkle distillery makes various products, not all which are Pappy Van Winkle. Pappy comes only in the 15, 20, and 23-year varieties, i.e., there is no such thing as a 10 Year or 12 Year Pappy.

Old Rip Van Winkle Handmade Bourbon 10 Year (107 proof)
Old Rip Van Winkle Handmade Bourbon 10 Year (90 proof)
Old Rip Van Winkle Limited Edition 23 Year (114 proof)

Pappy Van Winkle's Family Reserve 15 Year (107 proof)
Pappy Van Winkle's Family Reserve 20 Year (90.4 proof)
Pappy Van Winkle's Family Reserve 23 Year (95.6 proof)

Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year (90.4 proof)

Van Winkle Family Reserve Rye 13 Year (95.6 proof)

Should I be adding water?

Glad you were able to score a bottle. I like mine with just a splash of water to open it up a little.

As told to me by someone with more knowledge of bourbon than myself: Adding water will "open it up," which means it will bring out the sugar/sweetness a bit. Some bourbons, like Makers, are relatively sweet to start with, meaning that water is not needed. Other bourbons, in this case the example being Elijiah Craig 18 Year (very good BTW), are not very sweet and so a splash of water is often desired.

We toured Woodford on Sat. and our guide said to add 2 "chips" of ice to all bourbon. He explained that drinking a bourbon would allow an amateur to pick up 1-4 flavors (vanilla, caramel, tobacco, ect.), but by adding ice could pick up 3-10 flavors. I believe he said there are 27 flavors that can be picked up by the pros.