Making the experience of super-luxury spirits crazily affordable and accessible!
Read more about the Spirits project.
- Suggested retail price: $??? per bottle
- We will pour an ounce for $15
This bottle of Very Old Fitzgerald 8-Year Bourbon was barreled in 1959 and bottled-in-bond in 1967. The label says "Original Sourmash by Stitzel Weller Distillery." Now we know that the master distiller of that time was grandfather of Julian Van Winkle, who is now president of the Old Rip Van Winkle Distillery. Here is why this is important.
Julian Van Winkle, III is the third generation Van Winkle to be involved in the Kentucky Bourbon whiskey business. His grandfather, who was known as "Pappy", started the family in the business back in the 1870s when he was a salesman for the W.L. Weller & Sons liquor wholesalers in Louisville. He later built and was president of the Stitzel-Weller Distillery in Louisville, which opened its doors on Derby day, 1935. Their prominent brands were W.L.Weller, Rebel Yell, Cabin Still and Old Fitzgerald bourbons.
Julian's father, Julian, Jr., operated the distillery until the family sold it in 1972. At that time Julian, Jr. started the Old Rip Van Winkle brand with some of the whiskey he made while he was at Stitzel-Weller. Julian joined his dad in 1977. Julian continued to operate the business after his father's death in 1981.
Julian now has his whiskey produced under his grandfather's original wheated bourbon recipe, and ages and bottles the Old Rip Van Winkle brands in Frankfort, Kentucky. His whiskeys are the highest rated Bourbon whiskeys PERIOD. The 20-year old "Pappy Van Winkle's Family Reserve" has received a rating of 99 by the Wine Enthusiast magazine, and good luck finding it. It sells on the internet for hundreds or thousands of dollars. We only get a few bottles a year (and we get everything).
So what we have here tonight, ladies and gentlemen, is not Pappy Van Winkle Bourbon, which would be special enough. We have what Pappy Van Winkle is based on! We have bourbon history here ladies and gentlemen! This bottle too, will be history before the dawn, so if you can get to New Brunswick tonight, I suggest you do. We will open one bottle at 6:30 precisely. When it's gone, it's gone. And it will be gone!
In 2001 Julian's son Preston joined the business with his dad. He is the fourth Van Winkle to sell these premium bourbon and rye whiskeys. I wonder if the Pappy Van Winkle line will change the name someday to Grandpappy Van Winkle!
Comments