View Full Version : Pappy 23, "Spirit Of The Year"
Here's some interesting news from a distillery's press release.
Makes me want to open one.
**
Pappy Van Winkle 23 Year Old Bourbon Named "Spirit of the Year"
Buffalo Trace Distillery 10/19/2010
FRANKFORT, Franklin County, Ky (Oct. 19, 2010) – Wine and Spirits Magazine has named Pappy Van Winkle 23 Year Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey “Spirit of the Year” in its annual buying guide issue. There are only eight spirits of the year in the issue, and Pappy Van Winkle 23 is the only bourbon.
“We are honored to receive this recognition from Wine and Spirits, one of the most respected publications in the spirits industry,” said Julian Van Winkle III. “This caps off an unbelievably successful year for the Van Winkle line as a whole, with major wins for Pappy 15 at the Los Angeles International Wine and Spirits Competition and Pappy 20 at both the International Wine and Spirits Competition and the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.”
Here's some interesting news from a distillery's press release.
Makes me want to open one.
**
Pappy Van Winkle 23 Year Old Bourbon Named "Spirit of the Year"
Buffalo Trace Distillery 10/19/2010
FRANKFORT, Franklin County, Ky (Oct. 19, 2010) – Wine and Spirits Magazine has named Pappy Van Winkle 23 Year Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey “Spirit of the Year” in its annual buying guide issue. There are only eight spirits of the year in the issue, and Pappy Van Winkle 23 is the only bourbon.
“We are honored to receive this recognition from Wine and Spirits, one of the most respected publications in the spirits industry,” said Julian Van Winkle III. “This caps off an unbelievably successful year for the Van Winkle line as a whole, with major wins for Pappy 15 at the Los Angeles International Wine and Spirits Competition and Pappy 20 at both the International Wine and Spirits Competition and the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.”
I had some 2 nights ago. My thoughts were NOT "Wow, this should be spirit of the year!".. more along the lines of "Why did they let this age so long?".
"Why did they let this age so long?".
Really?
Hmmm, now I don't know if I should get one or not.
OK, here's what we can do to settle this issue.
Everyone out there send me a 200ml sample of the Pappy 23 in your possession and I will try them all and report back asap.
more along the lines of "Why did they let this age so long?".
How do you feel about the 20? A lot of folks seem to think that is aged too long as well. I don't.
How do you feel about the 20? A lot of folks seem to think that is aged too long as well. I don't.
The 20 aged to long? That's the first time I have ever heard of such a thing.
I have always thought of the Pap 20 as a light weight single layered sort of OK bourbon that I love if you are buying.
I have always thought of the Pap 20 as a light weight single layered sort of OK bourbon that I love if you are buying.
So cost is a factor when rating whiskey? I try to keep it out of the equation by having my girlfriend pour me "something that's open on the shelf", and judging it that way. Pappy 20 is usually picked easily from the crowd. It also helps for when/if I ever enter the BOTY competition.
So cost is a factor when rating whiskey? I try to keep it out of the equation by having my girlfriend pour me "something that's open on the shelf", and judging it that way. Pappy 20 is usually picked easily from the crowd. It also helps for when/if I ever enter the BOTY competition.
Rock on my Brother from another Mother.
I can't say no more cuz I haven't seen your whole shelf.
Personally I think PVW23 is way overpriced. I've tried all the Van Winkle Products (except the ORVW23 I'm saving) and the 20 is by far my favorite. Price should be considered as well which would put the 15 ahead of the 23yr IMHO, but neither one tastes as good as the 20 to me.
bourbonNOOG
10-19-2010, 18:53
I'm in the same boat with the 23. I have a half empty bottle of the 23 sitting on the shelf from vacation. It's good but not even close to an extra $129 good (compared to the 20). I've had the Lot B and haven't ever seen the 15 in my parts (hopefully this year). I'm a big fan of the Rye.
Found a local store that has a bottle of 20 on the shelf. I've been thinking about grabbing it for a day or 2 now, but just haven't made it by. I think tomorrow will be the day!
The 20 aged to long? That's the first time I have ever heard of such a thing.
I have always thought of the Pap 20 as a light weight single layered sort of OK bourbon that I love if you are buying.
I think the 20 is too old. I also think EC18 is too old.
ErichPryde
10-19-2010, 19:24
I think that the 20 aged rather well, actually. It's just too plain. If I wanted something like it and plain yet good, I'd buy the Lot B for the cost.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying there is anything wrong with Pappy 20. It's smooth and easy to drink. I just think that 100 dollars a bottle is way too much to be asking. Likewise, the PVW23 is way, wayyy too expensive. It is very interesting bourbon, though, and nothing like the 20 or the 15.
barturtle
10-19-2010, 20:26
I've had people trying to convince me for years that Pappy 23 was the be-all, end-all of bourbon and that Pappy 20 was the only acceptable alternative. I think they're nuts. I find them both to be over-aged and tired. I'm a firm believer that S-W hits its stride at 12yo, peaks at 15-16 yo and quickly goes downhill...and I invite anyone to start cracking bottles of every age and label to try to prove me wrong.
I think the 20 is too old. I also think EC18 is too old.
Funny, I think the EC18 is too old (or maybe it was aged in a way I find disagreeable), but I don't think the PVW 20 is too old. There's that harsh, pronounced eucalyptus flavor in EC18 which makes it a Do Not Like in my book, but the Pappy 20 is very, very nice. It's got a great balance of flavors (many of which I don't have the palate to identify) but it's still subdued and quite smooth. I will freely admit that I do like some woodiness in my whiskey, though.
I got a friend of mine a job, and he asked me what I wanted, and I said some PVW 23, because I could never bring myself to buy it for $180 (which is the cheapest I've seen it yet). That's just too much for a bottle of bourbon, unless I'm diagnosed with some horrible terminal illness and cost really isn't a factor.
Hell, now I'm fantasizing about what the best "terminal illness" bourbons would be... That's for another thread, I guess. Maybe we should send out an invite for Christopher Hitchens to be on SB. He's quite the whiskey drinker, you know...
I think that the 20 aged rather well, actually. It's just too plain. If I wanted something like it and plain yet good, I'd buy the Lot B for the cost.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying there is anything wrong with Pappy 20. It's smooth and easy to drink. I just think that 100 dollars a bottle is way too much to be asking. Likewise, the PVW23 is way, wayyy too expensive. It is very interesting bourbon, though, and nothing like the 20 or the 15.
I've had people trying to convince me for years that Pappy 23 was the be-all, end-all of bourbon and that Pappy 20 was the only acceptable alternative. I think they're nuts. I find them both to be over-aged and tired. I'm a firm believer that S-W hits its stride at 12yo, peaks at 15-16 yo and quickly goes downhill...and I invite anyone to start cracking bottles of every age and label to try to prove me wrong.
What they said.
:pope: :pope: :pope: :pope:
The Boozer
10-20-2010, 07:13
I've had people trying to convince me for years that Pappy 23 was the be-all, end-all of bourbon and that Pappy 20 was the only acceptable alternative. I think they're nuts. I find them both to be over-aged and tired. I'm a firm believer that S-W hits its stride at 12yo, peaks at 15-16 yo and quickly goes downhill...and I invite anyone to start cracking bottles of every age and label to try to prove me wrong.
Yes, and while they may be entitled to have an opinion, that doesn't mean their opinion can't be DEAD WRONG.
:cool: :cool: :cool: :cool:
This one was too easy - shooting fish in a barrel
jburlowski
10-20-2010, 14:13
I've had people trying to convince me for years that Pappy 23 was the be-all, end-all of bourbon and that Pappy 20 was the only acceptable alternative. I think they're nuts. I find them both to be over-aged and tired. I'm a firm believer that S-W hits its stride at 12yo, peaks at 15-16 yo and quickly goes downhill...and I invite anyone to start cracking bottles of every age and label to try to prove me wrong.
I would tend to agree. I think the PVW 15 is the peak of that line.
I would tend to agree. I think the PVW 15 is the peak of that line.
Amen and Amen
ErichPryde
10-21-2010, 12:15
Amen and Amen
Forever and ever amen!
camduncan
10-21-2010, 16:42
I've never had a Pappy I didn't like (though I like some more than others,) and think this is a deserving win. What frustrates me though is the tendancy for awards like this to go to either extremely rare or very expensive (usually both) bottles. It's unfortunate that the average bourbon drinker will never find, or likely afford to try the winners of these awards.
sailor22
10-21-2010, 18:04
Jeez fellas you guys really seem to have a hate thing going with the 20 and 23.
While I haven't been impressed with the 23 enough to buy any I really like the bottles of Pappy 20 I have had. Some evenings it really hits the spot like few others can. When I'm ready for it I find it warm, deep, tasty and subtle. When I'm in the mood for something younger and more complex I pour a younger Bourbon.
Guess my opinion is just DEAD WRONG regarding the 20, Thanks for setting me straight.
Some evenings the Pappy 15 or the lot b does the job. Recently I shared a lovely few hours with a 10/107. I can't think of another line up by anyone else that I appreciate as much top to bottom.
Jeez fellas you guys really seem to have a hate thing going with the 20 and 23.
While I haven't been impressed with the 23 enough to buy any I really like the bottles of Pappy 20 I have had. Some evenings it really hits the spot like few others can. When I'm ready for it I find it warm, deep, tasty and subtle. When I'm in the mood for something younger and more complex I pour a younger Bourbon.
Guess my opinion is just DEAD WRONG regarding the 20, Thanks for setting me straight.
Some evenings the Pappy 15 or the lot b does the job. Recently I shared a lovely few hours with a 10/107. I can't think of another line up by anyone else that I appreciate as much top to bottom.
It's like preferring a cab or a pinot. Different strokes for different folks. I don't like the woodier bourbons, while other really like it. I also tend to prefer the more subtle pinot to the tannic cab. (Since many of the woody flavors come from wood tannins... I guess we can definitely say I am not a fan of heavily tannic drinks) Although, sometimes I love a deep cab... just like sometimes I can really appreciate an 20+ year old pour.
CaptainQ
10-21-2010, 20:49
It's like preferring a cab or a pinot. Different strokes for different folks. I don't like the woodier bourbons, while other really like it. I also tend to prefer the more subtle pinot to the tannic cab. (Since many of the woody flavors come from wood tannins... I guess we can definitely say I am not a fan of heavily tannic drinks) Although, sometimes I love a deep cab... just like sometimes I can really appreciate an 20+ year old pour.
Exactly my thoughts. Ben are you a smoker? If I had to guess I would say no. Seems like smokers have distorted palettes and prefer "stronger" more assertive flavored beverages and foods.
Exactly my thoughts. Ben are you a smoker? If I had to guess I would say no. Seems like smokers have distorted palettes and prefer "stronger" more assertive flavored beverages and foods.
Distorted palettes? Come on now Dave :) The very fact that we drink bourbon neat versus drinking Canadian whiskey would say that all bourbon drinkers have a distorted palette :)
CorvallisCracker
10-22-2010, 14:14
I tried taking up painting a few years ago (the kind involving easel, canvas, etc), but all the paints ran together before I could even dip my brush in them, so I gave up. I later learned that I'd been using a distorted palette, so at some point I may get a flat one and try it again.
spun_cookie
10-22-2010, 23:06
the longer I have had mine, the woodier mine has gotten... Started off like a champ, but has fadded..
ErichPryde
10-23-2010, 02:29
Jeez fellas you guys really seem to have a hate thing going with the 20 and 23.
Not a hate thing! I actually REALLY like the 23. In fact, I think it's a much, much better bourbon than Pappy 20. It reminds me of serious wind ripping through the trees before a thunderstorm, the brief roll of thunder and a distant flash of lightning giving you a momentary glimpse of gigantic and ancient trees.
I actually have an ORVW 23 in the closet for a special day, So I'm not hatin' on the 23 year olds.
The amen! thing was a obscure and misquoted music reference, anyway. :skep:
I am glad that I have had 3 different bottles of the PVW 23. I see it as a privelage to taste something with the lineage and craftsmanship that goes into it.
Naming it "spirit of the year", at least to me, seems easy. Was it picked because it was that good? Or was it due to its lofty price and reputation.
Someone will see the award and expect it to be the best spirit ever purchased. For that price, of course it is. To say anything else would put into question why it was bought in the first place.
Hope I got my point across. It sounded better in my mnd..lol.
vBulletin® v3.6.4, Copyright ©2000-2012, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.