PAPPY VAN WINKLE

Pappy Van Winkle's Family Reserve is the flagship brand of bourbon whiskey owned by the “Old Rip Van Winkle Distillery” company (which does not actually own or operate a distillery), and is distilled and bottled by the Sazerac Company at its Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky.

Pappy Van Winkle's Family Reserve was formerly made from corn, rye, and barley malt, but now uses wheat in place of rye, and is aged in charred oak barrels. It is aged for 15, 20 or 23 years, which is considerably longer than the aging period for most bourbons. The 20 and 23 year ages are bottled at 45.2 apy (90.4 proof). The 15 year is bottled at 107 proof.

Price: $300 per bottle if you can find one.

Pappy Van Winkle's Family Reserve 23 Year Old Bourbon was named “Spirit of the Year” for 2010 by Wine and Spirits magazine in its annual buying guide issue.

The 12 Year Old Special Reserve was recognized with the "Trophy for Worldwide Whisky" and a Best-In-Class Gold Medallion in the International Wine and Spirit Competition for 2008. It received a score of 99 ("superlative") from the Beverage Testing Institute in the same year.