November Pappy Van Winkle's 20 Year Giveaway
All remaining coupon codes will go out this weekend.
Date: November 25
Time: 9PM EST
Place: Live on our Facebook Page
Pappy Alerts
We will send out email alerts when Pappy is spotted in new states or lotteries, etc. are announced. So stay tuned to this page on our site. Bars should also get a fresh supply over the next few months, so we'll let you know about upcoming Pappy events.
Ohio: How to get in on this year’s Pappy Van Winkle bourbon lottery
Fans of high-end whiskeys and bourbons take note: Pappy Van Winkle and other limited-release products are coming to Alabama.
It’s the most wonderful time of the year.
Details for the 2019 Ohio Division of Liquor Control Pappy Van Winkle and other rare Buffalo Trace bourbon lottery were announced on Nov. 15.
Mark your calendars: The lottery begins at 12:01 a.m. Monday, Dec. 2 and runs through 11:59 p.m. Friday, Dec. 13.
There will be roughly 900 total bottles for the lottery between the two collections, said Lindsey LeBerth, spokeswoman for the Ohio Department of Liquor Control confirmed.
Here is the list of bottles in the lottery:
• Old Rip Van Winkle 10, $69.99
• Old Rip Van Winkle 12, $79.99
• Pappy Van Winkle 15, $119.99
• Pappy Van Winkle 20, $199.99
• Pappy Van Winkle 23, $299.99
• Eagle Rare 17, $99.99
• George T. Stagg, $99.99
• Sazerac Rye 18, $99.99
• Thomas H. Handy, $99.99
• William Larue Weller, $99.99
Bourbon fans can enter both lotteries with one submission and have a chance to win a product from both collections. When you enter, you can choose to enter one lottery or both.
To be clear here, winners of the lottery are NOT NOT NOT winning a free bottle of bourbon. They are winning the right to purchase one bottle of a specific bourbon that has been designated on their winning entry. They will have to pay the regular, but not-jacked-up, retail price.
Here’s how to enter:
Visit OHLQ.com to access the entry page. After submission, you will receive a six digit ticket number; keep that number handy to help verify if you are a winner. Winners will be notified in early January using the email address entered with their submission. A list of winners will also be posted on our website.
Last year’s lottery drew over 73,000 entries.
Vermont - VT DLC launches Rare Spirits Raffle to benefit Spectrum Youth and Family Services
After several years of very successful rare bourbon and rye sweepstakes, the Vermont Department of Liquor Control (DLC) has launched its biggest and broadest Rare Spirits raffle. This offering has some of the rarest products, including Vermont’s own Whistle Pig Boss Hog 6th edition The Samurai Scientist (1st barrel). Of course, there will be Pappy Van Winkle, the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection, and there is also a Parker’s Heritage 13 yr., Elmer T. Lee 100th yr. tribute, Glenfiddich 23 yr. Grand Cru and many others. Details, raffle guidelines and entry form can be found here 802spirits.com/Raffle
“The DLC is very pleased to announce this 2019 raffle which is open exclusively to Vermont residents over 21 years old and provides the opportunity for winners to purchase very rare and highly sought out bourbons, ryes and single malt scotch whiskey” said DLC Commissioner Patrick Delaney. “Our goals in creating this raffle are to provide Vermonters with a fun opportunity to obtain these highly sought-after whiskies in a fair and transparent manner, while supporting a great cause.” Commissioner Delaney added.
The change from a sweepstakes to raffle allows Vermonters to enter as many times as they like. Each entry is only $5, and the more you enter the greater your chance of winning the opportunity to purchase one of these bottles. All proceeds from the raffle will go to support Vermont Spectrum Youth and Family Services. Spectrum was founded in 1970 and is a nationally recognized leader whose mission is to empower teenagers, young adults and their families to make positive changes through prevention, intervention, education and life skills services. “A significant component of the DLC’s mission is to prevent underage consumption, and to support responsible use of beverage alcohol. Contributing the raffle proceeds to Spectrum furthers that goal. We encourage entrants to be generous in supporting Spectrum” commented Commissioner Delaney.
These rare products are highly requested and available in very limited quantities worldwide. Last year over 4,000 Vermonters entered to win the opportunity to purchase a bottle of Pappy or Buffalo Trace Antique collection.
The raffle has two categories, one for Vermont consumers and one for Vermont Liquor Licensees (restaurants and bars). Winners will have the opportunity to purchase one bottle, at the regular retail price, from their local 802Spirits retail Agency. Entries will be accepted until November 24th, 2019 at midnight, with the drawing taking place on Monday, November 25, 2019. Winners will be notified by email and a list of all winners will be posted at the 802Spirits website. Winners will be required to show proof of Vermont residency upon purchase. Licensees will be required to provide their DLC issued license number.
Kentucky - Kentucky area Krogers to raffle rare bottles of Pappy Van Winkle
Kroger and Buffalo Trace are giving Kentucky residents a chance to own a piece of history for a fraction of the price.
According to a news release, the chain plans to raffle off bottles of Pappy Van Winkle, a high-proof bourbon that has sold in auctions for thousands of dollars.
Organizers say Kroger will only receive a few bottles per store, but there's no guarantee which year will be available at which location. Bottles range from 10 to 23 years old, the older the bottle the more expensive it will be.
Pappy Van Winkle pricing
- 10 year - $79.99
- 12 year - $99.99
- 15 year - $139.99
- 20 year - $229.99
- 23 year - $349.99
- Rye- $129.00
To win a bottle you must 21 years or older. Entries for the raffle will only be accepted on Nov. 29 from 4 pm-8 pm. Winners will be contacted by phone and bottles bottles will be available for pickup on Dec. 3 after 4 p.m.
Fifty Kentucky stores are taking part in the lottery.
Below is a list of NEARBY stores offering the bottles:
- 2219 Holiday Manor Center, Louisville
- 2200 Brownsboro Road, Louisville
- 9812 Linn Station Road, Louisville
- 3039 Breckinridge Lane, Louisville
- 5533 New Cut Road, Louisville
- 12501 Shelbyville Road, Louisville
- 6900 Bardstown Road, Louisville
- 111 Towne Drive, Elizabethtown
- 5001 Mud Lane, Louisville
- 4501 Outer Loop, Louisville
- 9080 Taylorsville Road, Louisville
- 291 North Hubbard Lane, Louisville
- 5929 Timber Ridge Road, Prospect
- 3040 Dolphin Drive, Elizabethtown
- 185 Adam Shepherd Parkway, Shepherdsville
- 12611 Taylorsville Road, Louisville
- 3165 S. 2nd Street, Louisville
- 1265 Goss Avenue, Louisville
- 9501 Westport Road, Louisville
- 1045 Dixie Highway, Louisville
Other Pappy Giveaways
US (Nationwide)
Drawing to be held on Thursday, December 5, 2019, at 11:00 a.m. EST in the 1st floor dining room of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Kentuckiana, located at 550 S. First Street (temporary entrance located at 101 W. Chestnut Street). You need not be present to win. Winner will be notified within seven days of the drawing. Prize cannot be redeemed for cash.
Ticket sales will open on Tuesday, October 1, 2019, and close at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, December 5, 2019, or when tickets are sold-out, whichever occurs first.
Click here for official rules and regulations.
Pappy Events
Austin, Texas - This Rip Van Winkle Hotel Package Includes a Pappy Van Winkle-paired Dinner
Let's assume for a moment that you've waited your entire life to score a taste of Pappy Van Winkle's Family Reserve Bourbon. So you attempt to buy a bottle. Even if you are lucky enough to land one at retail, you're still paying between $120 and $300 depending on whether you get the 15-, 20-, or 23-Year-Old bottling. But let's say you got it. You crack it open, pour yourself a glass… and then what? You probably pass away with the bottle collecting dust in your liquor cabinet, too apprehensive to pour another tipple from your most coveted and valuable bottle of bourbon ever again.
Wouldn't you rather get a full whiskey experience for your money? That's where The Westin Austin Downtown has your back. The hotel in the heart of the Texas capital is offering "The Rip Van Winkle Package." Not only does it include a bit of bourbon tasting, but it also gives you a place to crash when you're whiskeyed out… because before Rip Van Winkle was famous for his bourbon, he was famous for his love of a good night's sleep.
"We're fortunate to get a full allotment of Pappy at The Westin Austin Downtown, but this year we decided to spread the love, and put a tasting together that's commensurate with the rare juice," Director of Sales and Marketing Nicole Sopko told me via email. "The best way to try Pappy is via several vintages, so we took it a bit further and had our restaurant, Stella San Jac, create an entire Pappy-paired meal. We can't wait to share this experience with guests (and perhaps live vicariously through them)!"
For $799 per night (minimum two night stay), the hotel will provide you and a guest a flight of three different Pappy Van Winkle vintages, along with a "chef cultivated menu balancing impeccably with Pappy" at Stella San Jac, which focuses on Southern cuisine with nods to home cooking and local dishes. The flight features a shot each of 10-year, 12-year, and 20-year bourbon from the Old Rip Van Winkle Distillery. For the record, the first two bottles—though still highly coveted—are technically Old Rip Van Winkle bourbons. But that final 20-year-old will bear the Pappy Van Winkle label.
The package can be booked for dates from January 1 to October 1, 2020—or until The Westin Austin Downtown runs out of Pappy. (Some blackout dates may apply.) And all reservations must be made at least one week in advance. You can book your package by calling (512) 792-5664 or emailing pappy@westinaustindowntown.com.
Other Rare Bourbon Giveaways
Virginia: Several collectible annual-release bourbons available soon via lottery!
Virginia ABC will distribute these special bourbons via lottery on our website. The lottery form will be available for customers to enter on Wednesday, November 20 by 9 a.m., and will receive entries through Friday, November 22 at 11:59 p.m.
Old Forester Birthday Bourbon 2019 ($129.99) - 180 bottles available
The 2019 Birthday Bourbon is presented at 105 proof, the highest proof to-date for this special expression. With a taste consisting of rich oak spice and blackcurrant coupled with light maple, caramel cake and white floral notes, the 2019 Birthday Bourbon is a one-of-a-kind expression with a truly unique multidimensional profile.
Four Roses 2019 Limited Edition Small Batch Bourbon ($139.99) - 150 bottles available
Non-chill filtered and bottled at 112.6 proof, the 2019 Limited Edition Small Batch marks the first Four Roses limited-quantity bottling to feature a 21 year-old bourbon from the distillery’s OBSV recipe. This release will also feature a 15 year-old OESK, 15 year-old OESV and an 11 year-old OESV.
Parker's Heritage Collection #13 Heavy Char Rye Whiskey ($149.99) - 162 bottles available
The first ever rye whiskey of the Parker’s Heritage Collection, the 13th edition consists of 75 specialty barrels that were charred for a full minute and a half, as opposed to the traditional 40 seconds. The nose is chocolate and smoke, with honey sweetness and big spices. Dry tannins accentuate the rye character. The finish is long and warm, with lingering cloves and cinnamon.
- Please be patient. There is no benefit to signing up as soon as the lottery opens. All entries received during the entry period will have an equal chance of winning the opportunity to purchase a bottle. YOU MAY ENTER AT ANY TIME DURING THE LOTTERY ENTRY PERIOD.
- Both retail and licensee customers may enter this lottery. Separate drawings will be held for each group.
- Licensees will be asked to enter their license number, which will be verified prior to the drawing. Retail customers are not required to enter a license number.
- Only one entry per retail or licensee customer is allowed. Duplicate entries will be removed prior to the lottery drawing.
- Separate lotteries will be run for each product. Customers may enter for one, two, or all three products by checking the checkbox for each product. Customers who do not check any checkboxes will not be entered into any lotteries.
- More details about the lottery process are available on our website.
- In addition to contact information, the form will request a store number and store address where the bottle will be shipped. Customers may use the "Find a Store" feature to locate their store and store number.
- The recipients awarded the opportunity to purchase these products will be notified by Monday, December 2.
November Bourbon Releases
The Best Bourbons Ever, According to One of the Biggest Whiskey Forums on the Internet
Counting nearly 110,000 subscribers strong, Reddit’s /r/bourbon community is among the largest bourbon discussion platforms on the internet. From the most soughtafter bourbons in the world to Wild Turkey 101, the majority of the board’s discussion swirls around user-submitted bottle reviews. In a thread asking for the forum’s highest-rated bourbons ever, /u/zSolaris delivered. According to Redditor reviews, these are the five best bourbons you can drink (check out the full list here).
1. George T. Stagg (2012)
Average Score: 95.36 out of 100
The King of online bourbon discussion. George T. Stagg releases annually with Buffalo Trace’s Antique Collection. Its hallmarks are extraordinarily high-proof points and more flavor depth than virtually anything available. The 2012 release is a 16-year-old, 142 nuclear bomb of a bourbon. There is a near-zero percent chance at finding a release from 7 years ago on shelves, but you could perhaps trade bottles or drop well over $1,000 for it.LEARN MORE: HERE
2. George T. Stagg (2014)
Average Score: 93.75 out of 100
The 2014 George T. Stagg drop only slightly differed from the 2012 release. Its proof dropped to 138 and it’s about 5 months younger whisky (still technically a 16-year-old whiskey, though). To get a better idea just how dominant George T. Stagg is, click “Show More” on the bottle’s awards dropdown. For those who want in, this is another wallet-emptying bottle. Just about the only way to try it are at well-stocked bars or less-than-legal secondary market sources.LEARN MORE: HERE
3. William Larue Weller (2013)
Average Score: 93.45 out of 100
William Larue Weller is the only member of the Antique Collection to rival Stagg’s rating and award recognition. It’s 136 proof, barrel strength bourbon that’s matured for a dozen years, but that’s not the root of the hype. William Larue Weller, like all bottles of Weller, shares the wheated mashbill (recipe) of the Van Winkle Collection, meaning drinking this particularly Weller is a bit like drinking barrel proof Pappy. Even without pages of “Best” awards this Weller would be pricey. But it’s got both. Prices fluctuate through the year, but spending near $1,000 for a bottle isn’t uncommon. Better off finding a good bar.LEARN MORE: HERE
4. High West A Midwinter Night’s Dram
Average Score: 92.64 out of 100
The only non-Buffalo Trace bourbon in the top five is not what you’d expect. High West is large craft distillery in Utah that produces a number of off-the-wall whiskeys (Example: a blend of bourbon, rye and peated scotch). A Midwinters Night’s Dram is a combination of young and old very-high-rye whiskeys that are finished in French oak port barrels. Released annually, this bottle is its most exclusive drop of the year, but it’s not on the level of exclusivity as the other four bottles on this list. Bottles typically run around $90 to $100.LEARN MORE: HERE
5. William Larue Weller (2014)
Average Score: 91.45 out of 100
The 2014 William Larue Weller hit shelves at a higher proof than the 2013 release, but most reviews report it didn’t increase the burn. Like previous Wellers and Staggs on this list, it won’t be easy to pry bottles from owners, but whiskey bars should offer a glimmer of hope. If not, seek out lowel level wheated bourbon options like Weller 12-Year-Old or Maker’s Mark Cask Strength.
Cheers and Enjoy the Chase!
-Chris