Pappy is Already Impossible to Get, and There's Even Less in 2015

Buffalo Trace announced this year’s release of the Van Winkle lines of bourbon. Unfortunately, the yields are less then in previous years. Marketing director Kris Comstock noted “… several of the older Van Winkle barrels did not meet those standards.” The result is less 15 year-old Pappy, and “far less” of the 20 and 23 year-old releases. Kris suggested the allotment is half as much as last year.

This shortage is likely to increase the value of the 2015 Pappy release. Often, Pappy sells for many-times more than the suggested retail price:

• $49.99 - Old Rip Van Winkle Handmade Bourbon 10 Year Old 107 proof
• $59.99 - Van Winkle Special Reserve Bourbon 12 Year Old
• $99.99 - Van Winkle Family Reserve Rye Whiskey 13 Year Old
• $79.99 - Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve Bourbon 15 Year Old
• $149.99 - Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve Bourbon 20 Year Old
• $249.99 - Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve Bourbon 23 Year Old

Julian Van Winkle, president of Old Rip Van Winkle, notes that the increased prices on the retailer side are at the discretion of the retailer: “We have not raised prices and do not intend to do so drastically in the future. We are committed to our quality and our pricing.”

The only way to get Pappy is directly through your local retailer. bourbonr.com often has an availability map of release times. In the United States, its not uncommon for lines to start days before the release date.