Pappy Van Winkle 12 or 15 yo

I know it is a long shot, but I thought I would ask anyway ... Anybody seen a bottle on a shelf recently? I have a coworker retiring and we were thinking of getting him a bottle as a going away gift.

Thanks,
-Pete

Alas, I haven't seen any for many months.

Extremely unlikely unless you want to pay close to $100 (for the 12) or $200 (for the 15) on eBay. You could give him an IOU and then move fast when the fall release comes out.

Posted a response in the Ktichen forum, but also try calling around Chicago. I see it up there every now and again when I'm up there on business.

Pete, here's an offer out of Orlando for the 15 @ $109...best I could find

http://www.vineswineshop.com/sku1006665 ... erve-750ML

The spring release was one of the smallest I have ever seen in my years of this business. We received 2 bottles of the 12 year old, and nothing more. I actually contacted our state representative from Sazarac (their parent company) to let him know how insulted I was with what they gave us. I've been actively steering people away from these bourbons over the past few years. The new ownership seems to like to send their products to markets that do not support bourbon like our area does, and has not taken care of their core customers.

Pardon me, while I step off my soapbox.

On a total side note, if you want to see what the Pappy 12 Year Old is like this year, pick up a bottle of the Weller 12 Year. Eerily similar in flavor.

The Van Winkles are fine, but IMO they are the single most overrated bourbon (maybe whiskey) going right now.

It's good whiskey, but it's not that good. Plenty of just as good if not better bottles can be had year round and for half or less of the price.

Having a bottle of Pappy on your shelf is a status symbol, and is more about the difficulty they intentionally make you have getting it and less about the quality of the whiskey, which others have more than matched.

Besides, wheated bourbons are for college kids and women. Real men drink bourbon with rye.

I ended up going in a different direction ... I bought a bottle of the Col. E.H. Taylor Jr. Tornado Surviving bourbon. My co-worker is the kind of guy who would appreciate the uniqueness and the story behind this limited run.

Any Pappy to be had in town this fall? I've been waiting to hear people discussing it, but haven't so far.

This was released around election day. You might find a bottle or two at outrageous prices at stores or on craigslist.

Any Pappy to be had in town this fall? I've been waiting to hear people discussing it, but haven't so far.

I know of at least one liquor store locally that was going to get such a small allocation they told Pappy to forget it Seems like Pappy is more intent on satisfying demand elsewhere that they are neglecting Kentucky.

I know of at least one liquor store locally that was going to get such a small allocation they told Pappy to forget it Seems like Pappy is more intent on satisfying demand elsewhere that they are neglecting Kentucky.

It's not just Kentucky: http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/food/this_season_most_wanted_D8iFYFGTlCqafdgsY0oF0N. It's getting to be difficult to find just about everywhere.

In response to that NY Post article, New York magazine made a list of "Nine Amazing American Whiskeys that Aren't Pappy van Winkle": http://newyork.grubstreet.com/2012/11/best-american-whiskey.html. A few of these I agree with, and most all of them are available and affordable.

Even the Village Voice chimed in: http://blogs.villagevoice.com/forkintheroad/2012/11/pappy_van_winkl.php.

I can't think of another brand in any industry, not just spirits, that's risen so quickly yet seems so primed for a backlash as Van Winkle. I hope they know that having Anthony Bourdain endorse a product that no one can actually buy isn't a really good way to garner goodwill.

Ah, the power of "buzz". I doubt that its scarcity will kill the demand any time soon

There was talk around work about long lines at the Liquor Barn in Springhurst when word got around it was released in November. One guy said he waited in line for three hours. Sort of like Black Friday, I guess.

My bro was visiting around the time Pappy's was released this year, and wanted to buy a bottle to give for a gift. We couldn't find it so he came up with a substitute. There's plenty else to choose from, after all.

After living here for a couple of years I'm still developing a taste for bourbons. The one I find most pleasing to my palate so far is Four Roses Single Barrel. But given the choice I still gravitate towards a single malt Scotch. Unfortunately for me but understandably, Scotch selection and prices are not optimal in KY. There's one exception: A store that rhymes with Vader Schmoe's now carries spirits, and they have a decent 10 year old Highland single malt Scotch for $21.

Pappy 15 if I remember correctly is no longer bottled from Stitzel-Weller stock, so you would be paying just for the name on the bottle. Weller 12 year would taste better too.

[Robin Garr]

... given the choice I still gravitate towards a single malt Scotch.

This! Gimme an Islay or Skye or Highland malt over that hillbilly stuff any day.

Unfortunately for me but understandably, Scotch selection and prices are not optimal in KY. There's one exception: A store that rhymes with Vader Schmoe's now carries spirits, and they have a decent 10 year old Highland single malt Scotch for $21.

That's good to know. On the other hand, my local dispensary, The Wine Rack on Frankfort, carries a basic stock, including my beloved Talisker, for which I am willing to pay their price. The way I look at it, Mary and I can each have a tasteful after-dinner sip, and the price we pay, amortized across the entire bottle, compares favorably to a large soylatte for one at Heine Bros.

I'll look up that malt at Schmoe's, though. Thanks for the tip, Steve!