Barrels to Bottles: Pappy Van Winkle Bourbons & Thoroughbred American Whiskeys Headline Sotheby’s April Auction

“Untouched by hands and unhurried by time” best describes a bottle of Van Winkle bourbon. The journey from barrels to bottles takes decades and is one of the main reasons why each bourbon is considered rare. The Beverage Testing Institute (Chicago) also gave Van Winkle bourbon a score of 99/100, the highest rating ever given to a whiskey. Enthusiasts hunt for their share of Van Winkles. An 18-year-old Rip Van Winkle Blue Smoke and a 23-year-old Pappy Van Winkle’s family reserve are featured in Sotheby’s upcoming sale. The aged bourbons have flavors of leather, oak, and complex fruitiness with notes of spice and oak tannins. 

Over 250 lots of rare American bourbons, ryes, and thoroughbred whiskeys that stretch back over decades will be available in this auction. The collection spans from Kentucky to Pennsylvania and celebrates American whiskeys, particularly those from Kentucky. 30 bottles from the Van Winkle stable, ten bottles of Hirsch Reserve, and eight bottles of LeNell’s Red Hook Rye are all available online the day before the 2021 Kentucky Derby. Visit Sotheby’s to place a bid.