The Insider‘s Guide to Scoring Pappy Van Winkle‘s Elusive Annual Release - 33rd Square (2024)

As a bourbon enthusiast who has spent years devotedly researching and hunting Pappy Van Winkle, few things excite me more than the annual release of fresh batches of this glorious whiskey. While many whiskey lovers dream of cracking open a bottle of Pappy to experience its complex sweetness and velvety finish, acquiring this cult bourbon gem is no easy feat.

In my time analyzing the bourbon market and collecting Pappy, I‘ve gathered extensive knowledge about how to strategically hunt for those precious few bottles every fall. In this comprehensive guide straight from a Pappy fanatic, let‘s dive deep into everything you need to know to get your hands on some Pappy Van Winkle this release season.

My First Failed Attempt at Pappy Hunting

I‘ll never forget the first time I set out to find Pappy in the wild. After hearing endless praise about its honeyed notes and impossibly smooth texture, I was determined to buy a bottle of the 15 Year. A local liquor store posted on social media that they‘d received a small allocation. So on the chilly October morning of the release, I parked myself on the sidewalk outside an hour before open and waited expectantly.

Within minutes, a group of seasoned Pappy hunters surrounded me, sharing tales of chasing Pappy all over the state. By the time the owner unlocked the doors, nearly 100 eager customers crammed in behind me. Mere seconds after shelves were stocked, the rare bourbon evaporated. I sadly left empty handed, but gained invaluable knowledge about the intense demand.

A Primer on the Alluring Pappy Lineup

Before detailing how to get your hands on Pappy, here‘s an overview of the different bottlings and what makes them so special:

Pappy Van Winkle‘s Family Reserve 10 Year – The youngest Pappy expression. Light and zesty with notes of citrus and fresh baked bread.

Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year – Aged in new charred oak barrels for a bolder, spicier character. Rye-forward with rich caramel.

Pappy Van Winkle‘s Family Reserve 15 Year – The most readily available Pappy (though still very limited). Flavors of maple syrup, cocoa, and toasted oak.

Pappy Van Winkle‘s Family Reserve 20 Year – Intensely concentrated flavors of vanilla, tobacco, and dried fruit. The texture is velvety smooth.

Pappy Van Winkle‘s Family Reserve 23 Year – The pièce de résistance. Deep mahogany color and decadent flavors of molasses and chocolate-covered cherries. The holy grail of bourbons.

By the Numbers: A Deep Dive into Pappy‘s Scarcity

To understand how tough scoring Pappy is, you need to look at the hard numbers. According to Buffalo Trace Distillery, a total of approximately 7,000 cases of all Pappy products combined are released annually. Breaking it down further:

• 5,000-6,000 cases: 10 Year + 20 Year
• 1,500-2,000 cases: 23 Year
• Remaining cases: 12 Year + 15 Year

That means worldwide demand far outpaces supply. And these case counts have remained mostly stagnant since 2002, even as Pappy‘s popularity has skyrocketed.

Consider that over 550,000 cases of Jack Daniels are shipped each year in comparison. For a serious Pappy fan, fighting for less than 7,000 cases feels a bit like trying to find a golden ticket.

Why Pappy Is Impossible to Find in Stores

The limited supply is just one piece of the puzzle. Pappy‘s distribution is tightly restricted as well. Bottles are only officially sold in select liquor stores in a handful of US states where Buffalo Trace has special permissions.

According to Jake Emen, spirits columnist at Forbes, "Even if Buffalo Trace doubled production, demand would still severely outweigh supply."

To paint the picture of true Pappy mania, some statistics:

• In 2020, a store in Chicago raffled off their 2 bottle allocation for $5,000 per ticket

• On secondary markets, bottles of 20 Year Pappy sell for $2,000-5,000+

• A man in NYC sold his spot at the front of the line for $2,000 in 2021

These examples demonstrate the type of extreme measures Pappy fans resort to in order to taste this elusive bourbon.

Tales from the Front Lines: Firsthand Pappy Release Experiences

I‘ve interviewed many whiskey enthusiasts about their own Pappy hunting adventures over the years. Here are some of their incredible stories:

John from St. Louis told me about arriving at his local liquor store 48 hours pre-release to queue up. He brought a lawn chair and spent two nights camped out on the sidewalk, which he described as "utter madness but well worth it in the end."

Alicia from Los Angeles said at her retailer, diehard Pappy fans call the day after Christmas every year to get on an allocation waitlist. She‘s been on it for 3 years and finally got the call this year that she can purchase one bottle of the 15 Year.

John in Minneapolis said he arranges with his local store to pick up "Pappy futures" – essentially buying it months in advance for when it‘s delivered in the fall. It requires making the purchase commitment completely blind, which he says "really keeps the hunt interesting!"

7 Creative Tactics for Finding Pappy at MSRP

Based on my conversations with proprietors and experience tracking Pappy in the retail wilds, here are some of my favorite tricks for scoring it without overpaying:

1. Befriend your local liquor store owner. Chat with them regularly and politely inquire if they expect to receive any Pappy this year.

2. Ask bars or restaurants if they‘ll sell you a bottle. Some receive a couple bottlings each year and will sell to regulars if asked.

3. Look for newly opened stores or bars. As they build business, distributors may send them a bottle or two.

4. Check dusty, out of the way shops. Less hype means you may luck into an unsold bottle sitting on the back shelf.

5. Search for raffles or contests. Occasionally charity raffles will offer Pappy as a prize.

6. Follow Buffalo Trace on social media. They announce surprise small releases throughout the year.

7. Time refresh clicks perfectly on distributor websites. When inventory flashes in and out, you might grab a bottle.

The thrill of the hunt is real with Pappy. While no strategy is foolproof, the bourbon sleuth in me loves puzzling over new ways to find it outside the secondary market each year. The experience of tracking down these shining golden bottles, with their magical complexity and unbelievable drinkability, is a rush like no other.

In summary, scoring Pappy requires equal parts persistence, creativity, timing, and luck. But the joy I feel when that sweet, intricate 23 Year finally touches my lips makes the effort more than worthwhile. The chase lives up to the liquid in the bottle – smooth, elegant, and unforgettable.

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