Summer's here -- at least in Savannah, GA -- and the living is easy. But, it's already hot and humid as hell. And speaking of what's hot, many bourbon lovers and Pappy Van Winkle chasers are starting to ask when they can at least try to get their hands (and lips) on the best bourbon in the world.
Fall, Football and Pappy Van Winkle Bourbon
Once upon a time, Old Rip Van Winkle used to split the Pappy release between Spring and Fall. However, that ended last year as the distillery combined the Spring and Fall release into a larger Fall distribution. Now the only time you have a shot to get it is during the college football year. (Can't wait for that either). No matter, Pappy doesn't last long anyway. Maybe 24 hours. So you know pretty fast whether you're one of the lucky ones.
How Pappy Is Distributed
Some stores make the Pappy Van Winkle release a huge event with lines down the street, offering it on a “first come, first served” basis or via a true lottery – not just a waiting list. Others reserve it for their best customers or a have a waiting list. A few may offer presales, but this is hard to do, as most stores don’t know their allotment until the day the Pappy Van Winkle shows up.
Times and Dates May Vary
Most reliable sources anticipate that Pappy Van Winkle Bourbon will start arriving in October at the earliest and depending on your state by November or even December. These projections are typically based on last year’s arrival so your local liquor store can give you a decent, but not exact estimate. Here’s an example of how the release played out last year as a guide. Thanks to Bourbonr.com for tracking it. They should do so again this year so bookmark the link.
How to Get Some
You should also ask the stores how they allot Pappy Van Winkle. Most will have a long-standing waiting list, save it for their best customers, or will tell you they can’t get it (even if they can) so you’ll leave them alone. In other words, it's a crapshoot and it keeps getting harder as the Pappy Mania seems to be in full hysteria phase at the moment.
Your best bet is to find a store that offers it on a first come, first served basis or a real lottery. Caveat: You'll need to fortify yourself (with another bourbon) for the wait. It may take hours or days so I hope you enjoy camping in liquor store parking lots. Otherwise, try and find a “mom and pop” store off the beaten path. One that has been around for a while, preferably in Kentucky if you have a summer road trip planned. Or, if you're really desperate and have lots of money to blow, you can check out the secondary market and pay about 10 times retail.
If you're not sure you want to plop down that much cash before you taste it check out the Pappy List for locations (bars) that offer it by the pour. It won't be cheap, but it's damn good and every bourbon lover -- even if you're new to the party -- should try it at least once.
Good Luck and Cheers
The unfortunate truth is there’s a lot of fluff in the market place right now. Pappy lovers have to contend with aggressive entrepreneurial types, status seekers, and bourbon dabblers. However, some liquor stores still try and get the gold standard of bourbon into the hands and mouths of true bourbon appreciators. God bless the good guys.
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