New Round of Van Winkle to Hit Store Shelves Soon

For thirsty bourbon lovers, the wait is finally over, as a new round of Van Winkle whiskeys will hit store shelves in just a couple of weeks. The Van Winkle line is renowned for producing aged, high quality bourbon and rye whiskey, but also infamous for its scarcity.

“When bourbon ages over 15 years, much is lost to the angel’s share.  Many barrels often yield less than 20 gallons, out of the original 53 gallons,” said Julian Van Winkle, president of the Old Rip Van Winkle Distillery. “However, our patience creates bourbon with unrivalled flavor.” In order to try to keep up with American demand, Van Winkle has reduced exports, so as to increase the supply of Van Winkle in the United States. Underscoring the scarcity of Van Winkle is the packing arrangement, with three bottles per case instead of the usual 12.

Another change to the latest round of Van Winkles is the Old Rip Van Winkle 10 Year Old Bourbon, which will be bottled at 107 proof (53.5% alcohol) instead of the previous standard of 90 proof (45% alcohol). “We prefer the taste of our 10 year old bourbon at 107 proof. The rich flavor is compounded by the high proof,” said Van Winkle, who suggested that anyone who missed the old 90 proof Van Winkle should just add a splash of water.

The Van Winkle collection includes several expressions. Suggested retail prices for each are as follows:

•     $39.99 – Old Rip Van Winkle Handmade Bourbon 10 Year Old 107 proof
•     $54.99 – Van Winkle Special Reserve Bourbon 12 Year Old
•     $69.99 – Van Winkle Family Reserve Rye Whiskey 13 Year Old
•     $79.99 – Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve Bourbon 15 Year Old
•     $129.99 – Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve Bourbon 20 Year Old
•     $249.99 – Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve Bourbon 23 Year Old