Pappy tasting with Julian Van Winkle III

[OscarV]

The Ravens Club in Ann Arbor, MI is hosting a dinner and Pappy tasting with Julian Van Winkle III.

Monday November 11, here's what they say about it,...

Join us for an exciting evening with Julian Van Winkle III as we taste through his personal reserve of 5 extraordinary bourbons. We also have guest chefs from around Ann Arbor and Detroit preparing special tastes to compliment the evening. There will also be a local charity raffle for Pappy swag. Reception starts at 6pm, tasting begins at 6:30p, dinner and cash bar at 8p. Participation is limited to 50 guests.

Here's a cople of links if interested.

Their website http://theravensclub.com/

Their Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Ravens-Club/120651794661738

[Tony]

Thanks for the links Oscar, unfortunately the event is sold out.

I was toying with the idea of going to this when the announcement but it was $150 and sold out before the weekend was over when they announced it. Also I was not sure what the meal was going to be and figured I had all the bourbons they would be trying. Would have been cool to meet Julian though.

Best regards, Tony

[OscarV]

The invite said "guests", why do they have to pay $150.00?!?!?

This is like retail outlets that employ people at minimum wage but don't call them cheap labor but "associates".

And why does JVW III promote his whiskey when you cannot buy it anywhere.

It is on no store shelves in the entire country.

Someone here on SB.com should start a thread titled "Why do Buffalo Trace and Julian continue to market Pappy and BTAC?"

[Richnimrod]

For what it's worth:

I've stopped chasing "Pappy" for the simple reason that it's not worth the effort/expense. See how quickly this sold out?

So unlikely to get a bottle, so expensive, and IMHO not that special.

Is it great Bourbon? ...Yes. Are there plenty of other ones at far less cost? Certainly.

Are most of them easier to find? ...Qualified yes. Just my outlook on all things Pappy.

[nd2005]

The invite said "guests", why do they have to pay $150.00?!?!?

This is like retail outlets that employ people at minimum wage but don't call them cheap labor but "associates".

And why does JVW III promote his whiskey when you cannot buy it anywhere.

It is on no store shelves in the entire country.

Someone here on SB.com should start a thread titled "Why do Buffalo Trace and Julian continue to market Pappy and BTAC?"

Or it's like the Olive Garden calling their customers family?

From what I heard around town, TRC also quietly sold tickets to a lot of people in the restaurant/bar community in AA before opening sales to the public. So out of the 50 spots available, ~1/3 of them were snatched up before the rest of us even had a shot at them.

[petrel800]

For what it's worth:

I've stopped chasing "Pappy" for the simple reason that it's not worth the effort/expense. See how quickly this sold out?

So unlikely to get a bottle, so expensive, and IMHO not that special.

Is it great Bourbon? ...Yes. Are there plenty of other ones at far less cost? Certainly.

Are most of them easier to find? ...Qualified yes. Just my outlook on all things Pappy.

but, but, but, its the greatest bourbon in the known universe, I read it on the internets . . .

[Richnimrod]

but, but, but, its the greatest bourbon in the known universe, I read it on the internets . . .

I know, I know; sacrilege, I'm sure. I'll probably be summarily excommunicated now. My soul shall likely spend eternity without the perpetual light of Pappy shining down upon it, I guess. Oh Well..... :slappin:

[petrel800]

Don't worry Parker says you can almost get Pappy taste in a bottle of Old Bardstown.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[BoyScout]

makes me wish I still lived in A2, those were the days.

[Tony]

Glad I did not pay for this for me and the wife. She is sick today and it snowing.

Would like to hear from others who may be going.

Best regards, Tony

[nd2005]

So I stopped by Raven today to see what they had left.

They had the full range of Van Winkle products in stock...

VWFRR $20

PVW 15 $22

PVW 20 $34

PVW 23 $60

...for ONE OUNCE pours...

It's hard to take the Van Winkles seriously when they claim to be anti price-gouging, when these are the prices at places they choose to sponsor/endorse.

[smknjoe]

What about the 10yr?

[michaelturtle1]

So I stopped by Raven today to see what they had left.

They had the full range of Van Winkle products in stock...

VWFRR $20

PVW 15 $22

PVW 20 $34

PVW 23 $60

...for ONE OUNCE pours...

It's hard to take the Van Winkles seriously when they claim to be anti price-gouging, when these are the prices at places they choose to sponsor/endorse.

[nd2005]

They can state they are anti price gouging until they are blue in the face but in reality they have no control what so ever given the 3 tier system. I suppose they could boycott events at restaurants that charge more than x% of retail per pour but why would they? The restaurant will still serve and charge the same for the pour.. The only way to cure the price gouging is for them to flood the market to the point of a glut which is 100% the opposite direction of their stated intent to keep quantity low and quality high. The best part of being a consumer in a free market is you have a choice not to spend what you perceive to be too much on a product, simply take your business to another restaurant that charges "fair" prices.

I just thought it was particularly ridiculous that JVW was in town for a tasting at this bar, and their prices are double what I've seen anywhere else in town.

I paid for a glass of 20 yr at my favorite bar in town last week with no regrets (it may have helped that it was my favorite bartender and his pour was quite generous); not paying Raven's prices.

What about the 10yr?

They had the 10 and 12 but I couldn't remember their prices off the top of my head. Cheaper than the 15/20/23.

[LostBottle]

I would tell him that Pappy tastes like overhyped Buffalo Trace distillate and that if I wanted real Stitzel-Weller, I'd go ask Diageo (aka: the people that actually own the Van Winkle legacy).

Edited November 20, 2013 by LostBottle