Pappy Van Winkle's Family Reserve 23 Year Bourbon

Product Description

Pappy Van Winkle's Family Reserve 23 Year: The Pinnacle of the Van Winkle Range

Pappy Van Winkle's Family Reserve 23 Year Old is the crown jewel of the entire Van Winkle lineup, a rare, limited-edition wheated bourbon aged 23 years, with barrels carefully selected from the lower, cooler floors of Buffalo Trace's metal-clad warehouses to mitigate the intense wood extraction that comes with such extreme age. That deliberate placement allows for slow, concentrated flavor development while preserving the delicate sweetness of the wheat, a level of patience and precision that takes generations of distilling know-how to execute correctly.

Produced using the Van Winkle family's exact wheated recipe, a legacy that traces back to Julian "Pappy" Van Winkle Sr. and the historic Stitzel-Weller Distillery, the 23 Year stands as a monumental American whiskey achievement and a direct tribute to one of the bourbon industry's founding figures. Its reputation extends well beyond bourbon circles: 23-year-old Pappy Van Winkle has been named among the five most expensive bourbons in the world, and in 2018 a Kentucky priest personally delivered a bottle to Pope Francis. Related Van Winkle releases have gone on to set auction records, including a 20-year-old single barrel bottle that sold at Sotheby's for $162,500, the highest price ever publicly recorded for a bottle of American whiskey.

Extremely limited and highly allocated every single year, Pappy Van Winkle 23 Year is one of the most difficult bottles in the world to find at retail, a genuine trophy for serious bourbon collectors and a bourbon that, once opened, is best enjoyed exactly as intended: neat, with nothing added to dilute its extraordinary character.

Tasting Notes

Nose: Caramel and cream, with soft oak, nuts, and leather.

Palate: Sweet, with vanilla, maple, and honey, layered with citrus and spice, hints of ripe apple, cherry, oak, and tobacco, and a touch of chocolate.

Finish: Pronounced wood flavors lead to a sweet caramel finish that's long-lasting and eminently pleasurable.

Food Pairings

Pappy Van Winkle 23 Year's rich, deeply aged complexity pairs beautifully with equally refined fare. Try it alongside dry-aged steak, aged gouda, or a charcuterie board with dried apricots and walnuts, or savor it after dinner alongside dark chocolate or a fine cigar.

Serving Suggestions

Pappy Van Winkle 23 Year is best enjoyed neat, exactly as the Van Winkle family recommends, since any ice or water dilutes its uniqueness. This is a bourbon meant to be savored slowly on the rarest of occasions, ideally shared with those who can truly appreciate what 23 years of patient aging can achieve.

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes Pappy Van Winkle 23 Year so significant? It's the oldest, rarest, and most celebrated expression in the Van Winkle lineup, crafted using the family's exact wheated recipe with barrels selected specifically to survive 23 years of aging without becoming over-oaked. It's widely regarded as one of the most sought-after bourbons in the world.

What is the alcohol content? 47.8% ABV (95.6 proof).

What is the mash bill? Approximately 70% corn, 16% wheat, and 14% malted barley, the same wheated recipe used across the Van Winkle family lineup.

How old is this bourbon? 23 years, aged in the lower, cooler floors of Buffalo Trace's metal-clad warehouses to slow wood extraction and preserve balance.

Is this bourbon hard to find? Yes. Pappy Van Winkle 23 Year is one of the most allocated and difficult-to-find whiskeys in the world, released in extremely limited quantities annually.

How should I enjoy it? Neat, with no ice or water, to fully preserve its extraordinary complexity.

Explore More

Love Pappy Van Winkle? Shop our full Pappy Van Winkle collection for Old Rip 10 Year, 12, 15, and 20 Year releases, Family Reserve Rye, and rare bundles.

The Quality Liquor Store Guarantee

At Quality Liquor Store, we guarantee the authenticity and quality of every bottle we sell. All of our products are sourced directly from authorized distributors, and every order is carefully packaged to arrive safely at your door. Shop with confidence knowing your rare and allocated bourbons are in good hands.