If you're a whiskey connoisseur, you know the Van Winkle line of whiskeys, which are produced by Pappy Van Winkle's grandson in Kentucky, are among the most coveted around and getting your hands on a bottle is not as easy as just walking into your local Fine Wine & Good Spirits store.
The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board announced that it has opened the entry period for the Van Winkle limited release lottery.
The lottery is open to Pennsylvania residents and licensees and the entry period closes at 5pm on January 8.
Separate drawings will be held for each limited-release whiskey in the following order:
Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve Straight Bourbon 23 Year Old 95.6 Proof 2020 Release, $399.99 each – 18 bottles for individual consumers, five bottles for licensees
Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve Straight Bourbon 20 Year Old 90.4 Proof 2020 Release, $249.99 each – 54 bottles for individual consumers, 17 bottles for licensees
Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve Straight Bourbon 15 Year Old 107 Proof 2020 Release, $149.99 each – 134 bottles for individual consumers, 44 bottles for licensees
Van Winkle Family Reserve Straight Rye Whiskey 13 Year Old 95.6 Proof 2020 Release, $159.99 each – 134 bottles for individual consumers, 44 bottles for licensees
Old Rip Van Winkle Handmade Straight Bourbon 10 Year Old 107 Proof 2020 Release, $89.99 each – 370 bottles for individual consumers, 123 bottles for licensees
Van Winkle Special Reserve Straight Bourbon 12 Year Old 90.4 Proof 2020 Release, $99.99 each – 741 bottles for individual consumers, 247 bottles for licensees
Those selected in the lottery drawings will have the opportunity to purchase one of the bottles and purchases are limited to one per participant according to the PLCB.
In addition, once a participant is chosen, he or she is removed from all subsequent lottery drawing if they submitted entry for more than one drawing.
Wine Enthusiast magazine and the World Spirits Championship have rated the 20-year-old bourbon 99 out of 100.
The Van Winkle bourbons are produced using recipes that date back four generations.
Nearly 2,000 bottles are being made available for the lottery. Anyone wishing to participate in the lottery for the Van Winkle whiskeys can register at the Fine Wine & Good Spirits website.
According to the lottery registration page, the drawings will be held the week of January 11 and notifications to both winners and non-winners is expected to be completed before the end of the month.