Pappy Van Winkle - Now pouring at the girl & the fig!

As if a delivery from Santa Claus himself, the girl & the fig has received our allocation of Pappy Van Winkle bourbons, just in time to ring in 2020.

Let me give you a little background on this special liquor. At just 18 years old Julian “Pappy” Van Winkle began working for liquor wholesaler WL Weller & Sons. After 15 years, he and a colleague bought the firm, and acquired the A Ph Stitzel Distillery in Louisville, Kentucky. The merged Stitzel-Weller Distillery was opened in 1935, and "Pappy" Van Winkle distilled there until his death at the age of 89.

Around the mid 1970’s, Julian Van Winkle Jr decided to resurrect a pre-prohibition brand from Stitzel-Weller: Old Rip Van Winkle. He used old stocks to distill the bourbon, and ran the Old Rip Van Winkle Distillery company until his death in 1981, when his son (Pappy's grandson) Julian Van Winkle III took over. Today, the Van Winkle brands are distilled and bottled by the Sazerac Company at the Buffalo Trace Distillery. Production today is extremely limited.

The product today is highly sought after and has a cult-like following. Chefs have sung it’s praises, aficionados have come out in full force for a chance to taste the product, and critics have said things like, it’s “the bourbon everyone wants but no one can get.” Not to mention, it has been named one of the top 5 most expensive bourbons.

Pappy Van Winkle is aged for 15, 20, or 23 years. This is significantly longer than the ageing on most bourbons. The “Pappy” Van Winkle Family Reserve is the highest tier of the Van Winkle products, and is the longest aged and is the most sought after. Sister products (not to be confused with “Pappy” bourbon) include the 10 Year Old Rip Van Winkle, the 12 Year Van Winkle Special Reserve, and the 13 Year Van Winkle Family Reserve. The best way to spot a true “Pappy” is to make sure the bottle has a photo of Julian “Pappy” Van Winkle Sr. himself on the label.

Come in and taste this rare and special drink yourself! Til the bottles run out, the girl & the fig is offering Pappy Van Winkle’s 23 Year Family Reserve, Pappy Van Winkle’s 15 Year Family Reserve, Van Winkle’s 12 Year Special Reserve, and 10 Year Old Rip Van Winkle. This is a great opportunity to taste and compare, and decide for yourself if Pappy truly is one of the best bourbons! Cheers!