Van Winkle Tasting Event: The Van Winkle name represents one of the most storied legacies in American whiskey. Its history is closely tied to Julian “Pappy” Van Winkle Sr., who entered the whiskey business in the late 1800s and later became an influential figure behind the legendary Stitzel-Weller Distillery. Pappy became known for his commitment to wheated bourbon, using wheat rather than rye as the secondary grain to create a softer, rounder style of whiskey. Today, the Van Winkle family continues that tradition in partnership with Buffalo Trace Distillery, producing some of the most limited and sought-after American whiskeys. We invite you to experience four remarkable expressions spanning bourbon and rye: Old Rip Van Winkle 10 Year, Van Winkle Special Reserve Lot “B” 12 Year, Van Winkle Family Reserve Rye 13 Year, and Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve 15 Year. 1. Old Rip Van Winkle 10 Year Aged for 10 years and bottled at 107 proof, Old Rip Van Winkle offers a powerful introduction to the family’s celebrated wheated bourbon style. The use of wheat in place of rye contributes to a rich, rounded profile while the higher proof provides additional concentration and intensity. Expect layers of caramel, vanilla, toasted oak, dark fruit, honey, and baking spice, followed by a warm and lingering finish. It is a bold expression that balances mature barrel character with the sweetness and softness associated with wheated bourbon. 2. Van Winkle Special Reserve Lot “B” 12 Year Often referred to simply as Lot B, this 12-year-old wheated bourbon is bottled at 90.4 proof and offers a more restrained expression of the Van Winkle profile. Extended aging brings together notes of caramel, vanilla, honey, toasted nuts, ripe fruit, and seasoned oak. The palate is smooth and layered, with gentle sweetness complemented by mature barrel character and spice. Its combination of age and lower proof allows the subtleties of the whiskey to emerge while maintaining the rich character for which the Van Winkle name is known. 3. Van Winkle Family Reserve Rye 13 Year A distinctive departure from the family’s famous wheated bourbons, Van Winkle Family Reserve Rye is aged for 13 years and bottled at 95.6 proof. Long maturation gives the rye remarkable depth, balancing the grain’s natural spice with mature oak and developed sweetness. Notes of caramel, vanilla, dark fruit, tobacco, cinnamon, clove, and seasoned oak unfold across the palate, accompanied by the peppery spice characteristic of rye whiskey. The result is a complex and mature expression that offers a different perspective on the Van Winkle whiskey tradition. 4. Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve 15 Year Aged for 15 years and bottled at 107 proof, Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve 15 Year is one of the defining expressions bearing the Pappy Van Winkle name. Its wheated bourbon recipe undergoes extended maturation, developing a deeply concentrated profile of caramel, vanilla, dark fruit, toasted oak, leather, baking spice, and rich sweetness. The higher proof preserves intensity and structure, while 15 years in oak contributes considerable depth and complexity. The result is a full-bodied bourbon with a long, mature finish that showcases the relationship between the Van Winkle wheated recipe, proof, and extended barrel aging. Together, these four expressions provide a rare opportunity to explore the Van Winkle family’s whiskey legacy across age, proof, grain, and style—from the bold 10 Year wheated bourbon and elegant Lot B to the mature 13 Year Rye and the iconic Pappy Van Winkle 15 Year.