Old Rip Van Winkle's 15 Year Old Family Reserve
The Champagne of Bourbons
0 1497
Review by @Victor
- Nose~
- Taste~
- Finish~
- Balance~
- Overall97
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- Brand: Van Winkle
- Type: American
- ABV: 53.5%
The Van Winkle bourbon label is one of only five labels of bourbons using wheat instead of rye in the mashbill as the "flavoring grain". The others are Weller, Maker's Mark, Old Fitzgerald, and Rebel Yell. Wheat has a much different flavour from rye and unless wheated bourbons acquire strong wood flavours from aging 15+ yrs, they are usually not capable of the same intensity of flavours obtainable by rye formula bourbons. All of the Van Winkle bourbons tend to be scarce and sparingly allocated, even in the United States. My own local liquor distribution system, which is usually excellent, had no new Pappy Van Winkle products make it onto the shelves during the most recent autumn 2010 release cycle, for example.
Nose: Moderate caramel, honey, maple, oak
Taste: All of the above flavours come alive and sparkle in the mouth reminiscent of champagne. This is a whiskey of many high notes, a few middle notes, and the 15 years worth of wood adding a few bass notes. The taste experience is exhilirating and enlivening.
Balance: As champagne is different in style from other white wines, so this wheated bourbon is a distinctive kind of ethereal experience. I have tasted the 20 yo and 23 yo Pappy Van Winkles, and find that the extra wood aging seems to weigh on them compared to this 15 yr old. This is one of my go-to all time favourite whiskies.
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@Victor, you're not alone in thinking that 15 years in wood is optimal for Pappy Van Winkle bourbon, surpassing both the younger and older expressions. But do expect it to become even scarcer, as all Pappy products come from bourbon sourced from the now defunct (and much missed) Stitzel-Weller distillery. Once it's gone—and such a time is nigh—it's gone. However, Buffalo Trace has been making the other Van Winkle products (Old Rip, Lot B, and so on), and word has it that they're up to much the same standard. We might lose the wonderful Pappy iconography, but there's hope yet for the contents inside the bottle.