Pappy 23 Year Old

[BSS]

Today I picked up my bottle of the new release Pappy 23 from the Beaumont Liquor Barn in Lexington. I noticed on the Van Winkle website that it said the new release was 900 bottles. My question is, my bottle is #1004, did they end up bottling more than 900 bottles or do they just start with a number above 104. I was just curious about it. This bottle sounds like it was an extreamly tough find for even those of us that live in central Kentucky. The Beaumont Liquor Barn only recieved 6 bottles, and you had to be on a list to get one. It makes me wonder why they were only selling them for $116.

[Paradox]

Julian did do more than 900 bottles even though his site says otherwise. It is a bit more than 1000 that was bottled. Also, it would seem they messed up on the price. Going price in KY was supposed to be around $200. The cost to smaller store owners (What they had to pay for it) was about $155. (Keep in mind they on average markup items as much as 35%.

[BSS]

I was expecting between $150 to $200. So I had a smile on my face when they scanned the bottle and it said $116!!!

[bobbyc]

Left is an old one, bottle #1660. Right is a new one, Number is in the mid 800s.I'm conflicting whether to sell or keep them. I suppose the best course at the moment is to do nothing!

[bourbondoc]

Bobby,

SELL,SELL,SELL. TO ME!

Jeff Johnson

[jvanwinkle]

BSS:

You got a hell of a deal considering the store paid about $155.00 for that bottle. They gave you the old price I belive.They have since corrected the price now.

There were a little over 1,000 bottles filled, so you have one of the last ones off the line.

Julian

[BSS]

I knew they had that price screwed up. I tried to get another bottle out of them but they were already spoken for. I also doubt they are hurting due to the loss of about $40 to me. They have made at least 10 times that amount on profit from me in the last 2 years!!

Thanks for the info Julian.

[bourbonmed]

Julian,

I see your new 23 was a hit with the Louisville newspaper on Saturday. Congrats, see link.

I just hope a bottle makes it down here soon.

Cheers,

Omar

http://www.louisvillescene.com/2004/01/03/drink.html

[LeNell]

I'm a retailer in NYC and I still ain't seen my bottles yet. Patiently, patiently waiting with customers just a waitin' along with me. Supposedly the shipment was screwed up by the distributor's trucking company or some such story so you guys are lucky and even beat me to it! I'm jealous. I've been begging for months.

[pepcycle]

I was in my local liquor shop and noticed a three pack of Pappy 23 behind the counter. Some lucky Nicholasville resident had three bottles reserved. I asked if I could just touch them. I rubbed the bottle through the black velvet bag and wondered. Should I order some or not. OK, OK, I ordered one. Let's see if it comes in.

[Barrel_Proof]

Do the new labels report "Frankfort" instead of "Lawrenceburg" as the location of the distillery? Are there any (other) differences in the appearance of the bottles? Different bar codes? Different glass? Different wax?

[Paradox]

Bobby can speak for the bar codes CLiff, but I do know that the new labels do indeed say "Frankfort" instead of "Lawrenceburg". My ? to Bobby is did you see any new ones with the black bags around them that 'some' of the originals did before they ran out of them? I liked seeing the 20yo Pappy in the red pouches but I know that even they have since been 'phased out'.

[bobbyc]

The new front labels say Frankfort instead of Lawrenceburg. The old label seems to have more red shading in the Pappy VanWinkle's, and Family Reserve letters than the new. The 23 Year Old tab appears the same on both. The little hangy thing is on with a small leather string on the old and a piece of gold elastic on the new. The wax on both is the same gold, but the old one it is thicker, on the new it is somewhat thin and the serrations around the top are clearly seen, where they aren't very visible on the old. with the exception of adding some numbers to the left of the UPC code the rear labels are identical. The little hang tags on the new bottles have been crinkled up a good bit. On my old bottle there are no creases in that at all. The writing inside are different for both bottlings. On the new one Julian recommends drinking it neat and no water or ice added, the old one he says either neat or over ice.

The glass appears to be the same. After getting these back out I see that I have bottle 879 of the new.

I wish I could add some tasting notes but that will have to wait, It doesn't feel like I bought them til I open them!

[jvanwinkle]

All the "New 23 Pappys" have Frankfort as the address. All bottles should have a black bag, at least they left the distillery in a black bag!

We only bottle the 20-year with the red bags for the holidays.

Julian

[Paradox]

Ahh, Thanks for the info on the bags Julian!

[bobbyc]

What new 23 year bottles I have seen, all had the black bags.

[LeNell]

3 boxes arrive. My heart races, my hands, shaking, try to yank out gargantuan staples but impatiently just rip open the cardboard to reveal soft, velvety black bags. I thrust my clenched fists up into the air and quickly draw them to my side with an emphatic "YES!" There is a deity smiling down on me...I have just received my Pappy 23 year shipment! A "shout out" to the Master of the Craft, Gentleman Julian.

[bobbyc]

How much , if you don't mind me asking, are you selling yours for?

[LeNell]

Who said I was selling it?

BTW, I don't believe in trophies...let's get to drinkin', folks. Coming soon I hope...notes from a side by side with current and past 23yr. Stay posted.

[dgonano]

Have all the bottles gone out to the distributors.

I have seen none in Maryland .Everyone says they are waiting for some to come in, but....is it gone?

Anyway I drove 180 miles to NYC and picked up a bottle, and yes it did have the black bag.Also grabbed a bottle of Black Maple Hill 16yr( Lawrenceburg version); 2 more OFBB Fall for the bunker(yes I also have one),some special scotch selections, cachaca,etc.,etc.

I think I,m out of control.

[dgonano]

I would still like to know if all the Pappy 23 has been

shipped , as I do have an order at one establishment.

Boy , it takes a magician to get those black bags back on the bottle. A little tight.

[LeNell]

Yeah, I found the same problem. The red bags were perfect size on the 20 year, but the black ones are a bit skimpy size wise. Wonder why.

[Barrel_Proof]

The red bags were perfect size on the 20 year, but the black ones are a bit skimpy size wise. Wonder why.

Simple. The bourbon's more fully rounded after 3 more years in the wood!

[LeNell]

Should we put the 23 year on the Atkins diet? NOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!

[gr8erdane]

If you had 750 ml of Pappy 23 in you, wouldn't you relax a bit and have to let your belt out a notch or two?