Father's Day Article on ESPN about Pappy

[humchan2k]

I am serious -

http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/6667949/pappy-van-winkle

And you thought competition to get bottles of it was hard now? This just makes it even worse!

[DeanSheen]

Ohh Jeeze. This is getting out of hand.

The best part for me, they don't mention my two favorite bottlings in the article.

FTFA:

If you know what Pappy Van Winkle is, you're already mad at me.

At least he announced that he was out of ideas for a story. How long till 23 shows up in Rap vids?

[AaronWF]

What is this rubbish about 20 years 107 proof? Wasn't the 23 year decanter set 107? The barrel-proof 20 year is my dream dram, but I didn't think it existed... A goof or is this Sean Brock fellow just well-positioned?

Oh, and I picked up two 20-years for a buddy of mine just last week: one for him and one for his pappy. My dad doesn't drink.

[brritscold]

i'm a little turned off by the fact that he focuses on Pappy so obsessively, and that he openly brags about cleaning out any store that he finds with it on the shelves. Pappy Van Winkle is great, sometimes superlative bourbon, but to de facto call it the best without any qualifications is a bit much to me, at least. And then the fact that he asks for it on the rocks in the story... I know that John Hansell recently wrote about how it's snobbish to only drink whiskey in a certain way every time, and I agree, but if you really think Pappy is that special, then diluting it with ice doesn't seem the best way to appreciate something that rare and complexly flavored...

[sutton]

Here's hoping no one reads his article ...

I can't imagine what it must be like trying to plan production for this product. Who knows what the craze will be 15, 20, or 23 yrs from now.

[RyanL]

What is this rubbish about 20 years 107 proof? Wasn't the 23 year decanter set 107? The barrel-proof 20 year is my dream dram, but I didn't think it existed... A goof or is this Sean Brock fellow just well-positioned?

Oh, and I picked up two 20-years for a buddy of mine just last week: one for him and one for his pappy. My dad doesn't drink.

Well it says it was a special bottling. 107 20 year sounds awesome though. Special release this fall one time?!?! The Decanter set is 114 if I remember correctly.

[ebo]

I'm sure the stuff is good/great... all of them, but I will never see one, let alone get to try it, so, I really don't bother with all the Pappy hype.

[OscarV]

, I really don't bother with all the Pappy hype.

I'm with ya.

The 15yo is dry, the 20yo is watery and the 23yo is $230.00.

[SMOWK]

I've got a feeling that this "collectible" will not hold it's value as a long-term investment. There are too many articles like this that would persuade even a non-drinker to buy a few cases and sit on it.

I don't plan on selling any of mine, but when I run out, I'm guessing that the cost of a bottle on eBay will be less than they are currently selling for.

[RyanL]

I've got a feeling that this "collectible" will not hold it's value as a long-term investment. There are too many articles like this that would persuade even a non-drinker to buy a few cases and sit on it.

I don't plan on selling any of mine, but when I run out, I'm guessing that the cost of a bottle on eBay will be less than they are currently selling for.

It's really a very simple case of supply and demand. When the supply runs out if the demand is still there the prices will go up. A few articles or avg Joe non drinkers buying only to resell later is not even close to enough to drive prices below current retail pricing. That would be great but it won't happen.

[sutton]

It's really a very simple case of supply and demand. When the supply runs out if the demand is still there the prices will go up. A few articles or avg Joe non drinkers buying only to resell later is not even close to enough to drive prices below current retail pricing. That would be great but it won't happen.

The market for this stuff will eventually split in two - you'll have the current release and those that can claim provenance to the SW source ... eventually, when all the SW dries up, their will be the pining away for the original, that even if the BT version is great, you'll get the "I remember when this was ..." thing happening. So I'm sure in 15-20 yrs, someone will have that bottle of mythical SW juice that will go at a 2X-3X (or more) premium to the current bottling ... take a look at the prices of 1945 First Growth Bordeaux in the auction market. Which will attract fakes/fraud etc...

Scarcity is a beautiful thing in the auction market...

[DeanSheen]

I'm with ya.

The 15yo is dry, the 20yo is watery and the 23yo is $230.00.

[OscarV]

So there you go. Mark me down as not a fan of the 15 which has kept the nervosa away on the 20 and 23 because if I find the 15 too woody and dry then I'm sure I won't enjoy more age.

[BFerguson]

Quick somebody get a counter story out on AP to throw these new folks off of the trail of what the rest of us work for very diligently.

So what should it be? Ten High, Rebel Yell, Red Stagg? What is the best to get them off the trail of the Pappy??

B

[DeanSheen]

Um, we are still swapping the Pappy 15 for the 1 liter Laphoraig Quater Cask, right?:skep:

However, the SB.com Pappy 23yo is the bomb!

[Bourbon Boiler]

I'm with ya.

The 15yo is dry, the 20yo is watery and the 23yo is $230.00.

[Virus_Of_Life]

I don't know what is more disappointing; the article in general, the lack of availability further blown out of proportion, or a blowhard .... chef getting a single barrel of 20 year at a proof Julian won't give it to us at?!

So, yeah, in summary I am pretty well disgusted with all parties involved, but as usual the almighty dollar reigns supreme! Good for you Julian.

[birdman1099]

I don't know what is more disappointing; .... chef getting a single barrel of 20 year at a proof Julian won't give it to us at?!

.

This is what I found most disappointion....

[SMOWK]

It's really a very simple case of supply and demand. When the supply runs out if the demand is still there the prices will go up. A few articles or avg Joe non drinkers buying only to resell later is not even close to enough to drive prices below current retail pricing. That would be great but it won't happen.

The market for this stuff will eventually split in two - you'll have the current release and those that can claim provenance to the SW source ... eventually, when all the SW dries up, their will be the pining away for the original, that even if the BT version is great, you'll get the "I remember when this was ..." thing happening. So I'm sure in 15-20 yrs, someone will have that bottle of mythical SW juice that will go at a 2X-3X (or more) premium to the current bottling ... take a look at the prices of 1945 First Growth Bordeaux in the auction market. Which will attract fakes/fraud etc...

Scarcity is a beautiful thing in the auction market...

They are already at 2x-3x more than shelf price on eBay. I think this is more of a fad. People will move onto something else and sell their Pappy's to do so. The trick will be to find them and buy them outside of eBay.

take a look at the prices of 1945 First Growth Bordeaux in the auction market

Were people collecting these as avidly as they are Pappy of today?

[craigthom]

So what should it be? Ten High, Rebel Yell, Red Stagg? What is the best to get them off the trail of the Pappy??

I vote Ten High. I've got an unopened bottle made in Peoria, and I'd love to see it rise in value, at least up to what I paid for it.

[smokinjoe]

I keep coming across articles like this, referencing the "cult" status of Pappy, and they usually reference some bar(tender), chef, etc. The beer writer for the Atlanta paper did one in early May. They all seem to follow the same formula. It seems a little much to just be coincidental. :skep: I don't expect the Pappys to be in short supply for too much longer. I believe all of this press is intentional pre-release marketing from VW/BT, for when the BT VW's begin entering the pipeline in larger quantities sometime in the not to distant future. And, the release quantities will be quite larger than what we're accustomed to. Don't know when that is, but I think it's closer than what I had originally been thinking. This is about creating additional demand, I say, outside of the enthusiast crowd of which we belong. IMO, this furor outside of our community is not by accident. And, BTW, I have no problem with any of this. It's a business, and these are business people. But, I think this puts an end to any romantic affiliation, other than last name, from the releases of PVW's, and the storied Pappy/Old Fitz/S-W whiskies and distillery. Pappy's gone corporate.

Of course, this is just my opinion....and, I could be wrong...:crazy:

[SMOWK]

Great post Joe. I really enjoy the current VW 10s and 12s, so I am hoping you are correct and the allocations get larger.

[DeanSheen]

Dear Joe,

Stop making sense.

Signed,

~Julian

(I cant wait till their BT Rye and Bourbon get out in the wild, hopefully they will be good and more readily available)

[craigthom]

There's a beer writer for the Atlanta paper?

I want that job!

[smokinjoe]

There's a beer writer for the Atlanta paper?

I want that job!

Yeah, his name is Bob Townsend. I drink a lot of beers, but I'm not a total beer geek. So, I can't vouch for what he writes is any good, and if possibly the AJC may be looking for someone of your high stature, Craig. But, if asked, I'll put in a good word for you!! Will you be citing your membership in the Georgia Bourbon Society on your resume?