Van Winkle

PRODUCER'S NOTES: "This wonderful bourbon is bottled as close to barrel proof as possible. We add just a splash of our Kentucky limestone well water when we empty the barrels for bottling. Thus, this whiskey is as smooth as any you will find. The more water you add to whiskey from its natural barrel proof to its bottle proof, the harsher it becomes. This 107 barrel proof seems to be just right."

In 1893, when he was 18 years old, Julian "Pappy" Van Winkle Sr. began working as a salesman for the liquor wholesaler, W.L. Weller & Sons. Fifteen years later, he and another Weller salesman bought the firm. In 1910 they acquired the A. Ph. Stitzel Distillery in Louisville, Kentucky, which had started as a sour mash whiskey distillery in 1872.

The Stitzel Distillery supplied much of the whiskey sold by the Weller wholesale firm. The consolidation coincided with prohibition, during which time the Stitzel-Weller firm was licensed by the government to produce whiskey for medicinal purposes. One of their labels that was introduced on the market just before prohibition was Old Rip Van Winkle. After prohibition, the brand was not reintroduced until after 1972 when the Stitzel-Weller distillery and its current brand names (including W. L. Weller, Old Fitzgerald, Rebel Yell, and Cabin Still) were sold to other companies.The only brand name the Van Winkle family had kept the rights to was the pre-prohibition brand Old Rip Van Winkle.

The Stitzel-Weller Distillery was opened on the day of the Kentucky Derby in 1935, just outside Louisville in Shively, Kentucky. At the time of his death in 1965 at the age of 89, Pappy Van Winkle was the oldest active distiller in the nation. A photo of him lighting a cigar graces the bottle's label.

Sometime after the Stitzel-Weller distillery was sold in 1972, Julian Van Winkle, Jr. resurrected the pre-prohibition Old Rip Van Winkle brand and initially used old whiskey stocks from the distillery for its bottlings. Julian Jr. died in 1981 and Julian Van Winkle, III (Pappy's grandson) took over the Old Rip Van Winkle Distillery company.

After the initial sale in 1972, the Stitzel-Weller distillery was eventually closed completely in 1991.

Since 2002, the Van Winkle brands have been distilled and bottled by the Sazerac Company at the Buffalo Trace Distillery as a joint venture with the Old Rip Van Winkle Distillery company.

In 2013, Julian Preston Van Winkle III, said the 2013 bottlings of the 23-year brand expression "may be the last of its kind", since at that point there was very little left of the aging stock from the Stitzel-Weller distillery (although he said the brand would not be discontinued). The makers say that they do not want to boost production, as there is considerable long-term risk, and they do not want to be left holding copious quantities of unsaleable bourbon should tastes, fashions or circumstances change.

Van Winkle Special Reserve "Lot B" is the 12-year expression of the Van Winkle family's wheated bourbon — bottled at Buffalo Trace, the family's partner distillery since 2002, at 90.4 proof, and released in tiny annual allocations that never come close to demand.

The name is one of bourbon's better stories. As Julian Van Winkle III tells it, back in his Old Commonwealth days he split his 12-year barrels into two lots: Lot A was small and vanished almost immediately; Lot B was larger and took years to sell through. By the time the next batch was ready, customers were asking for "Lot B" by name — so it stayed on the label. Three decades later, the plain label and wine-shaped bottle are unmistakable on any shelf lucky enough to hold one.

Like every Van Winkle bourbon, Lot B is wheated — wheat takes the place of rye in the mash bill, trading spice for softness. Twelve years in the barrel turns that softness into something deeper: caramel and ripe stone fruit up front, honeyed oak and baking spice underneath, and a finish so gentle you understand why wheated bourbon inspires this much devotion. Within the family lineup it sits between Old Rip Van Winkle 10 and the Family Reserve bottlings that made "Pappy" a household name — old enough to show real maturity, restrained enough at 90.4 proof to pour generously. Ask around: plenty of longtime collectors will tell you, quietly, that Lot B is the one they actually drink.

A word on trust, because with Van Winkle it matters: counterfeits are a genuine problem in this category, and it's why every Van Winkle bottle we offer comes from authenticated and verified sources. White-glove packing and, in most cases, same-day shipping come standard. Buying it as a gift? This listing is the bottle on its own — the same bourbon is also available in our Van Winkle gift sets, built for exactly that occasion. And for the collectors — we hunt down vintage, laser-code-dated Lot B releases, the kind of bottles you otherwise only see in someone else's trophy cabinet.

At a glance

• Producer: Old Rip Van Winkle Distillery
• Bottled at: Buffalo Trace Distillery, Frankfort, Kentucky (the family's home since 2002)
• Style: Wheated Kentucky Straight Bourbon
• Age: 12 years
• Proof: 90.4 (45.2% ABV)
• Size: 750ml

Common questions

Is Van Winkle Special Reserve Lot B the same as Pappy Van Winkle?
Same family, same wheated recipe, different tier. "Pappy Van Winkle" formally refers to the Family Reserve bottlings (15, 20, and 23 year); Lot B is the 12-year Special Reserve just below them — which is why enthusiasts often call it "Baby Pappy."

What does "Lot B" mean?
The story goes back to the early 1990s: Julian Van Winkle III split his 12-year barrels into two lots. Lot A sold out fast; Lot B lingered long enough that customers learned to ask for it by name, and the name never left the label.

Is Lot B a wheated bourbon?
Yes — wheat replaces rye as the secondary grain, the signature of every Van Winkle bourbon. The result is a softer, sweeter, rounder profile than traditional rye-recipe bourbons.

Why is Van Winkle Lot B so hard to find?
It's released in very limited annual allocations, and the share reaching any single store is tiny. Most bottles never reach an open shelf — which is exactly the problem a concierge exists to solve.

*Must be 21 to order.

PRODUCER'S NOTES: "A younger version of our famous 20-year-old Pappy Van Winkle’ Family Reserve, this bourbon was crafted according to our exclusive family wheated recipe. The smooth, oak flavor blends well with the barrel proof. Selected from barrels in the heart of our Kentucky warehouse, it has remained untouched for 15 years and unhurried by time."

PRODUCER'S NOTES: "This is the #1 rated Bourbon Whiskey in the world—Rated 99 out of 100 by the World Spirits Championship. This bourbon is aged 20 years and bottled at 90.4 proof. This whiskey is wonderfully smooth and rich. No other bourbon today can stand 20 years of aging, but this bourbon does it with style. Pappy Van Winkle was a true character. This bourbon, like Pappy, is full of the character that makes it a very special whiskey. It has been put in the class of a fine after-dinner cognac."

PRODUCER'S NOTES: "This very rare, limited edition bourbon takes generations of distilling know-how to produce. Only the most careful and expensive distilling method can be used to create a whiskey as special as this one. This is the same distillation as our famous 20 year old Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve. These barrels were carefully selected from the heart of the warehouse. This whiskey should be enjoyed neat. Any ice or water will dilute the uniqueness."

Note: The actual year might differ from the bottle shown in the picture. If you want to request a specific year please contact us.

This 13-year breaks the mold as it is one of the oldest rye whiskeys available today. The maturity it has achieved while aging is quite obvious when you take the first sip. A soft nose of chestnuts, spice, vanilla and fruit. Features flavors of cocoa, vanilla, spice, and white pepper. A long, warm and complex finish with caramel and spice combined with dry oak.

Predominant oak stands out but not overpowering as you would expect in a 25-year old bourbon. Wheated bourbons typically age well, and this ORVW follows suit. The sweet sugars hold up and provide an excellent balance and flavor complexity to the oak forward. The proof point is just right with this expression. It’s a straight down the middle, aged wheated bourbon that is very nice.

The perfect corporate or special occasion gift.  An inviting and rustic custom handcrafted wooden gift box with a brass nameplate with a customizable engraving that allows for up to 75 total characters that can span three text lines.  As you open the antique latch, it reveals a felt top that has been covering 2 hand-blown glasses and a selected bottle from our Van Winkle line up laying gently and securely in a batch of hypoallergenic antique packing straw. The exterior dimensions of this one of a kind gift box are 14.75″W x 10.75″D x 5.75″H. Because each box is handmade, quantities are limited.  Customized plates require 2-4 weeks depending on the quantity requested to have the plates created and applied to the box for shipping.  For large bulk orders please contact hello@thebourbonconcierge.com.  Our team will be in contact with you after ordering to determine exactly what you want the plate to say.

This is a very rare bottling of a single barrel pappy van winkle 15 year selected and bottled for Civic Center Liquor in San Francisco back in 2004.  Unlike the current releases of pappy van winkle 15 year which contain a wheated bourbon recipe distilled by Buffalo Trace, this limited bottling was from a hand selected private cask of the legendary Stitzel-Weller wheated bourbon, aged at least 15 years and bottled at 107pf.

This bourbon whiskey is bottled at nearly barrel proof. Just a splash of Kentucky limestone water is added after a decade of aging. Rich, yet smooth, this bourbon takes a back seat to none. A sweet vanilla nose with caramel, pecan and oak wood. Smooth, mellow flavor consisting of robust wheat, cherries and oak. Features a long, smoky wheat finish with hints of fruit, spice and oak tannins.

*Must be 21 to consume alcohol

One of the last years that Pappy Van Winkle 23 was bottled using Stitzel-Weller juice before Buffalo Trace began using its own barrels for producing Pappy Van Winkle.

Iconic original Stitzel Weller mashbill of the Pappy Van Winkle 20.  This bottle is truly a unicorn as it was barreled in 1991 just as Van Winkle was on its rise.   No other bourbon today can stand 20 years of aging, but this bourbon does it with style. Pappy Van Winkle was a true character. This bourbon, like Pappy, is full of the character that makes it a very special whiskey

An inviting and rustic custom handcrafted wooden gift box with a brass nameplate with the engraving "Best Pappy Ever" that teases the fact that someone special is about to open something equally special. As you open the antique latch, it reveals a felt top that has been covering 2 hand-blown glasses and a bottle of Original Rip Van Winkle Bourbon Aged 10 Years laying gently and securely in a batch of hypoallergenic antique packing straw. The exterior dimensions of this one of a kind gift box are 14.75″W x 10.75″D x 5.75″H. Because each box is handmade, quantities are limited and please inquire for expedited shipping.

As you open the antique latch, it reveals a felt top that has been covering 2 hand-blown glasses and a bottle of Original Rip Van Winkle Bourbon Aged 10 Years laying gently and securely in a batch of hypoallergenic antique packing straw. The exterior dimensions of this one of a kind gift box are 14.75″W x 10.75″D x 5.75″H. Because each box is handmade, quantities are limited and please inquire for expedited shipping.

As you open the antique latch, it reveals a felt top that has been covering 2 hand-blown glasses and a bottle of Pappy Van Winkle Bourbon Aged 23 Years laying gently and securely in a batch of hypoallergenic antique packing straw. The exterior dimensions of this one of a kind gift box are 14.75″W x 10.75″D x 5.75″H. Because each box is handmade, quantities are limited and please inquire for expedited shipping.

As you open the antique latch, it reveals a felt top that has been covering 2 hand-blown glasses and a bottle of Pappy Van Winkle Bourbon Aged 23 Years laying gently and securely in a batch of hypoallergenic antique packing straw. The exterior dimensions of this one of a kind gift box are 14.75″W x 10.75″D x 5.75″H. Because each box is handmade, quantities are limited and please inquire for expedited shipping.

As you open the antique latch, it reveals a felt top that has been covering 2 hand-blown glasses and a bottle of 2018 Pappy Van Winkle Bourbon Aged 15 Years laying gently and securely in a batch of hypoallergenic antique packing straw. The exterior dimensions of this one of a kind gift box are 14.75″W x 10.75″D x 5.75″H. Because each box is handmade, quantities are limited and please inquire for expedited shipping.

As you open the antique latch, it reveals a felt top that has been covering 2 hand-blown glasses and a bottle of 2018 Pappy Van Winkle Bourbon Aged 15 Years laying gently and securely in a batch of hypoallergenic antique packing straw. The exterior dimensions of this one of a kind gift box are 14.75″W x 10.75″D x 5.75″H. Because each box is handmade, quantities are limited and please inquire for expedited shipping.

As you open the antique latch, it reveals a felt top that has been covering 2 hand-blown glasses and a bottle of Van Winkle Special Reserve Bourbon Aged 12 Years laying gently and securely in a batch of hypoallergenic antique packing straw. The exterior dimensions of this one of a kind gift box are 14.75″W x 10.75″D x 5.75″H. Because each box is handmade, quantities are limited and delivery is expected in 10 business days.