“One Bourbon One Scotch One Beer.”
― John Lee Hooker
Happy Friday!
It’s Friday time to raise a glass and celebrate.
I’ve had a change of plans and can’t go to Bourbon and Beyond next weekend (BUMMER!), so I have a ticket for both days General Admission. I’ve got it listed on Vivid Seats for $175, but I am offering to members for just $100, so if you need an extra ticket for both days, let me know. First one to reach out gets them. (Shoot me an email chris@pursuitofpappy.com).
Also, check out the link below for a post I just wrote about the Pappy Phenomenon if you want to discover how Pappy Van Winkle made its meteoric rise.
Finally, this time of year is when the Bourbon releases get very interesting. So to keep you in the know about what’s ahead check out this info from breakingbourbon.com.
Reminder: Pappy 15 Year Drawing on September 30
Don’t forget about your coupon codes if you haven’t used them yet. Also, you can still buy regular tickets until Sept. 30 @ 8:45pm EST.
Go Here to Enter Now.
4 Shots
The Pappy Van Winkle Phenomenon: How Pappy Became the Most Sought-After Bourbon in the World
Ever wondered how and why Pappy Van Winkle’s bourbon earned its stellar reputation?
Some say it all began when Julian Van Winkle III stumbled upon an old picture of his grandfather, Julian “Pappy” Van Winkle, smoking a stogie in the mid 1990’s. He decided it would be the perfect label to affix upon the now acclaimed bottle of Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve 20 Year when it was released in a green bottle in 1994. A few years later in 1998, the second expression –- aged 3 years longer –- Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve 23 Year came to be.
The first Pappy 20 was not today’s Buffalo Trace distillate, nor was it the renowned Stitzel-Weller juice. Instead it was made with bourbon distilled at Old Boone Distillery. In fact, the bottle of Pappy 20 that a Chicago distributor sent to the Beverage Tasting Institute (without Julian III’s knowledge) that scored the first 99 BTI had ever gave came from this batch. And surprisingly enough, it WAS NOT a WHEATED bourbon, but used rye as the flavoring grain.
Wheated Smoothness
Now if you don’t know much about Pappy that might not sound like a big deal, but if you know just a little, you realize that one of the characteristics that set Pappy apart and made it famous was its smoothness. Replacing the rye with wheat in the mash bill created this smoothness. Up until that time, most distilleries used rye to flavor their bourbon, which gives it a spicer taste. (Remember Bourbon has to be at least 51% corn too.)
Eventually, the rye-based Pappy Van Winkle ran dry in 1998, and this is where the story gets interesting. Julian III decide to start using wheated Bourbon from Stitzel-Weller in the future bottlings of Pappy. His dad, Julian Van Winkle, Jr., had received rights to the old Stitzel-Weller stocks when the distillery was sold in 1972 as the demand for bourbon dried up. The company also switched from green bottles to clear bottles. This NEW wheated recipe of Pappy also scored a groundbreaking 99 from the Beverage Tasting Institute in 1996. This triggered the rise of Pappy Van Winkle as the most famous Bourbon on the planet.
Check back for Part 2 of the Pappy Van Winkle Phenomenon to discover how Father Time, Celebrity Chefs — and Scarcity played a part in the ascent of Pappy.
Could this be the rarest bottle of Pappy? Here’s how you could own it.
Later this month, the Speed Art Museum in Louisville will hold its inaugural “Art of Bourbon” auction to raise money. And they have a lineup that includes some of the rarest bourbons of the modern era.
Among them:
▪ The 10th bottle of Pappy Van Winkle. This bottle of Pappy Van Winkle 23-year-old Bourbon was given to the current owner by Julian Van Winkle, Pappy’s grandson and the one who revived the brand by bottling this whiskey in 1998 in Lawrenceburg before the brand moved to Buffalo Trace Distillery. According to the museum, bottles No. 7, 8 and 9 have been consumed. And the Van Winkle family owns Nos. 1-5. This bottle is valued at $20,000, Speed says.
▪ A bottle of Albert B. Blanton, bottled in 1952 for Blanton’s 55th anniversary from barrels hand-selected by distilling icon Blanton at the George T. Stagg Distillery, now known as Buffalo Trace. Speed said this bottle is 7-year-old bourbon and has a Kentucky tax stamp, suggesting it may have entered the retail market. According to the museum, this bottle comes from the granddaughter of a former Stagg Distillery employee; Blanton died in 1959, so this bottle is beyond rare. It is valued at $10,000, according to the release.
▪ A bottle of 7-year-old Stitzel-Weller Original, bottled about 1965. According to the museum, this bottle was made for John Wellburn Brown, a prominent life insurance company executive. Bourbon experts know Stitzel-Weller as the origin of the whiskey that became Pappy. This bottle is valued at $5,000, according to the museum.
▪ King of Kentucky, a limited release from Brown-Forman, which offered only 960 bottles of this “revival” of the old label with a 14-year-old bourbon. Priced at $200 when released this spring, it already was the most expensive bourbon Brown-Forman ever released. Now this bottle is valued at $1,200, according to the museum.
Celebrate National Bourbon Heritage Month In Kentucky, The Birthplace Of Bourbon
September is National Bourbon Heritage Month and no place is more appropriate to celebrate this liquor than in Kentucky, the birthplace of American Bourbon. Kentucky is home to 14 signature distilleries, 13 craft distilleries and 44 Louisville bars and restaurants that pride themselves on both their bourbon expertise and bourbon-centric offerings which include bourbon-infused dishes, craft cocktails and flights.
Depending on your interests, you can tour (or bike!) the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, the Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour or explore the Urban Bourbon Trail, each trail offering a variety of in-depth bourbon experiences featuring both history and insight on America’s only native spirit.
With 95 percent of the world’s bourbon crafted right in Kentucky, it’s a bourbon aficionado’s dream destination. Thanks to the growing bourbon industry there are more opportunities than ever to celebrate the libation. From festivals, distillery tours and tastings to interactive exhibits, classes and a new welcome center, here’s a round-up of the top new events and places to honor National Bourbon Heritage Month in Kentucky.
HISTORIC BOURBON HALL OF FAME LINEUP
Bourbon makes history this year with its Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame Lineup. And for the first time, the ceremony is open to the public, with tickets available for purchase.
On Sept. 14 at the Frazier Museum in Louisville, the following inductees join the hallowed ranks of bourbon’s greatest:
Freddie Johnson, VIP Visitor Lead, Buffalo Trace Distillery
The late Dr. Pearse Lyons, Founder & President, Alltech, Inc.
Max L. Shapira, President, Heaven Hill Brands (Lifetime Achievement)
Matthew J. Shattock, Chairman & CEO, Beam Suntory
“This year’s class truly shows the diversity of personas behind the growing Golden Age of Kentucky Bourbon, from a beloved tour guide whose wisdom and personality embodies and elevates our visitors’ experience, to the leadership and passion of three top executives who have forged the path to our current success,” said Eric Gregory, president of the Kentucky Distillers’ Association, in a press release.
Cheers and Enjoy the Chase!