Pappy Van Winkle 15 Year: Why Is the Bourbon Worth the Hype?

Did you realize that more than 80 percent of rare bourbon bottles in the U.S. are sold out in hours after release? Very few names cause this frenzy like Pappy Van Winkle. Its bottles have become a legend and are revered by collectors and everyday drinkers. The most debated and admired of them is the Pappy Van Winkle 15-year.

What Makes Pappy Van Winkle So Special?

The history of Van Winkle can be traced back to the late 1800s when Julian (Pappy) Van Winkle started creating the history of bourbon. The family worked the recipes of wheat bourbon to perfection, producing whiskeys that are difficult to replicate in terms of smoothness over the course of generations. A bottle of Pappy Van Winkle nowadays is not only a tradition but also a luxury. The fact that there is limited production makes it almost impossible to find on shelves.

The Pappy Van Winkle 15-year balances both age and flavor in astonishing fashion. It is aged in charred oak, which provides it with a flavor of vanilla, caramel, and oak, among others. Amateurs call it lying in the so-called Goldilocks zone of bourbon: not too old to be complicated, not too young to have too much tannin. A lot of collectors are of the opinion that this release creates the most complete bourbon experience in the brand.

Comparing the 12, 15, 20, and 23 Year Releases

Each release has its fans. The 12-year-old is a sweet and well-balanced one. The 20-year-old is richer with oak, whereas the 23-year-old is rich with chocolate and leather. Nevertheless, most people think that the 15-year-old captures the bourbon when it is at its best maturity. It provides fullness without diminishing freshness, making it a favorite to drink neatly or in small portions.

Why is it so rare?

The production of both the Pappy Van Winkle Reserve and the Old Rip Van Winkle labels is done at the production facility of Buffalo Trace Distillery in Kentucky. The Old Rip Van Winkle Company is in possession of the brand itself, though, making sure that family heritage is at the core of every bottle.

Scarcity drives the chase. Production remains limited to preserve quality. The supply does not match the demand as thousands of whiskey enthusiasts search for bottles every year. In the secondary markets, prices can rise to several thousand dollars, particularly on the Pappy Van Winkle 15-year. Quite rare and coupled with truly professional craftsmanship, this is the reason behind the fanatic following.

How Should You Drink It?

The collector can retain his bottles, but the ultimate happiness is in the tasting. Take it straight to enjoy its stratified profile. Others like to add one drop of water to free up aromas. It hardly finds application in cocktails, but some connoisseurs have experimented with some classics such as the Old Fashioned. By definition, the longer the time in oak, the deeper and the more complex the flavor.

Final Thoughts

Still, it could be history, flavor, or exclusiveness, but Pappy Van Winkle is the bourbon that most enthusiasts would be proud to have. To a large number of people, Pappy Van Winkle 15-year is like a perfect example of the tradition of Kentucky whiskey. It might be hard to find, but once found, it might be like tasting a slice of bourbon history.