Bourbons

Flight #2 WINNER: Kelly Rapier of Frankfort, KY

Five of Buffalo Trace Distilleries’ finest offerings!

The Buffalo Trace Antique Collection (BTAC) whiskeys remain some of the most sought-after bottles in America, and prices on the secondary market regularly exceed several times the recommended retail price.

Please Note: Our prize “flight” included George T Stagg Antique Collection which is not available this year!

Thomas H Handy Sazerac Antique Collection,

Named after the New Orleans bartender who first used rye whiskey in the Sazerac Cocktail, this uncut and unfiltered Straight Rye Whiskey is bottled directly from the barrel, just as it was over a century ago. Full of rich flavors, this authentic American rye whiskey is a symbol of the timeless history of New Orleans and the legacy of Thomas H. Handy.

Straight Rye Whiskey 750 mL

William Larue Weller Antique Collection

Uncut and unfiltered, this hand-bottled bourbon is barrel-proof. Weller substitutes wheat for the traditional rye grain, a production method pioneered by W.L. Weller.

Barrel proof | 750 mL, 125.7 pf

George T Stagg Antique Collection

This extremely hearty whiskey ages in new charred oak barrels for no less than 15 years.  Straight out of the barrel, uncut and unfiltered, the taste is powerful, flavorful, and intense. Open it up with a few drops of water, sit back and ponder the wonders of the universe.

Barrel proof | 750 mL, 144.1 pf

Sazerac Kentucky Straight Rye Antique Collection

The famed Sazerac Coffee House was founded in 1850 on Exchange Alley in New Orleans, Louisiana and soon gained fame as the home of “America’s First Cocktail” known as the Sazerac. Using rye whiskey in place of the French brandy, a dash of Peychaud Bitters, and Herbsaint, what eventually became the official cocktail of New Orleans was created.  This straight rye has a mellow spice and dry sweetness that dances on the tongue, giving pure delight that is worthy of the Sazerac name.

Bottled Spring 2015 | 750 mL, 90 pf

Eagle Rare Antique Collection

This rare bourbon ages in oak barrels for nearly two decades and is only available in small quantities once a year, every fall. Sip this polished, well-aged whiskey to appreciate why patience is such a virtue.

Bottled Spring 2012 | 750 mL, 90 pf

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FLIGHT 3 Winner: Becky Wells of Frankfort, KY

James Thompson & Brother Final Reserve 45-Year-Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

FLI

This lot includes not just one but two of the oldest bourbons ever bottled!

ONLY 250 commemorative boxes were filled with a 750ml bottle of the 45-Year-Old Bourbon along with a 100ml bottle so folks can taste it right away if they feel they do not want to open the larger bottle at first. A small piece of one of the barrels will also accompany the package. This 115-proof Bourbon

First Release: The Final Reserve James Thompson and Brother Bourbon 

Second Release (Autographed Bottle): The Final Reserve James Thompson and Brother Bourbon 

WINNER: Matthew Simone of Matthews, NC

Bottle No. E260, Bottled by the Old Rip Van Winkle Distillery in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky
107 proof.

In 1972, with the sale of Stitzel-Weller and its brands to Somerset (a subsidiary of Norton Simon), the Van Winkle family retained one pre-prohibition brand: Old Rip Van Winkle.

Julian Van Winkle II, Pappy’s son, started selling whiskey distilled at Stitzel-Weller under this brand. It was bottled for him at Stitzel Weller, where he also retained an office, until his death. The focus was initially on decorative decanters, but some regular glass bottles were offered also. In 1981, When Julian II. died, his son Julian III took over. Stitzel Weller’s courtesy of bottling and holding an office didn’t extend to Julian III, so in 1983 he bought the Hoffman Distillery Lawrenceburg, KY from Ben Ripy to use for offices and its bottling line, renaming it Old Commonwealth. He continued to purchase bulk whiskey for his brand from Stitzel Weller until its closure in 1992. Julian III’s son Preston joined the company in 2001. In 2002, seeing the end of Stitzel-Weller stocks to bottle, a joint venture was created with Buffalo Trace. All stocks were transferred to Buffalo Trace’s warehouses, as was the bottling operation.

Since Stitzel-Weller stopped distilling in early 1992, it’s simple subtraction to figure out when those stocks would have started running out for the different Van Winkle bottles. Some Bernheim-distilled wheated bourbon was reportedly mingled in once the Stitzel-Weller started to run out for each expression, ultimately being replaced by wheated bourbon distilled at Buffalo Trace.

This prize includes an Old Rip Vand Winkle adjustable baseball call and a copy of “Pappyland,” by Wright Thomson.

WINNER: Susan Quarles of Frankfort, KY

Bottle No. C1913, Bottled by the Old Rip Van Winkle Distillery in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky
107 proof.

In 1972, with the sale of Stitzel-Weller and its brands to Somerset (a subsidiary of Norton Simon), the Van Winkle family retained one pre-prohibition brand: Old Rip Van Winkle.

Julian Van Winkle II, Pappy’s son, started selling whiskey distilled at Stitzel-Weller under this brand. It was bottled for him at Stitzel Weller, where he also retained an office, until his death. The focus was initially on decorative decanters, but some regular glass bottles were offered also. In 1981, When Julian II. died, his son Julian III took over. Stitzel Weller’s courtesy of bottling and holding an office didn’t extend to Julian III, so in 1983 he bought the Hoffman Distillery Lawrenceburg, KY from Ben Ripy to use for offices and its bottling line, renaming it Old Commonwealth. He continued to purchase bulk whiskey for his brand from Stitzel Weller until its closure in 1992. Julian III’s son Preston joined the company in 2001. In 2002, seeing the end of Stitzel-Weller stocks to bottle, a joint venture was created with Buffalo Trace. All stocks were transferred to Buffalo Trace’s warehouses, as was the bottling operation.

Since Stitzel-Weller stopped distilling in early 1992, it’s simple subtraction to figure out when those stocks would have started running out for the different Van Winkle bottles. Some Bernheim-distilled wheated bourbon was reportedly mingled in once the Stitzel-Weller started to run out for each expression, ultimately being replaced by wheated bourbon distilled at Buffalo Trace.

This prize includes an Old Rip Vand Winkle adjustable baseball call and a copy of “Pappyland,” by Wright Thomson.

Four bottles of Kentucky Owl Bourbon WINNER: Gerald Byrd of Spring, TX

Kentucky Owl Bourbon was founded in 1879 by C.M. Dedman and is currently led by Dixon Dedman. He recommissioned the brand and released his first batch of bourbon in 2014 and the first batch of rye in 2017.

Kentucky Owl – Confiscated

Confiscated pays tribute to the barrels the government seized from Dixon’s great-great-grandfather, C.M. Dedman, just ahead of Prohibition. Those barrels were never seen or tasted again. More than a century later, Confiscated is the first offering from Kentucky Owl available in all 50 U.S. states.

750 mL, 96.4 proof

Kentucky Owl

Batch 10, Bottle 12,386 of 14,030 , 750 mL, 120.2 proof

Kentucky Owl –

Batch 9, Bottle 3419 of 11,595, 750 mL, 127.6 proof

Kentucky Owl –

Batch 2, Bottle 917 of 1380, 750 mL, 117.2 proof