The 2024 Van Winkle whiskey collection has been released

Highly coveted Van Winkle Whiskeys are back

By Christopher Osburn Published December 17, 2024

Van Winkle Collection — Buffalo Trace

In the hierarchy of American whiskey, there’s no pinnacle higher than Van Winkle. These highly coveted expressions are so highly regarded and released in such limited quantities that they end up being sold for ridiculous prices on the secondary market.

Recently, Old Rip Van Winkle Distillery and Buffalo Trace announced the return of the eagerly awaited Van Winkle Whiskey Collection. Known for its soft, wheated mash bill, the Van Winkle Collection consists of six highly collectible whiskeys.

Recommended Videos

The 2024 Van Winkle Whiskey Collection

Van Winkle — Buffalo Trace

The Van Winkle Collection includes Old Rip Van Winkle Handmade Bourbon 10-Year-Old, Old Rip Van Winkle Special Reserve Bourbon 12-Year-Old, Old Rip Van Winkle Family Reserve Rye 13-Year-Old, Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve Bourbon 15-Year-Old, Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve Bourbon 20-Year-Old, and Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve Bourbon 23-Year-Old.

“There’s an incomparable feeling of joy that comes from finding a bottle of Pappy on the shelf,” Julian Van Winkle III, President, Old Rip Van Winkle Distillery, said in a press release. “This season, we’re excited that connoisseurs have a greater chance to enjoy our older expressions, thanks to an exceptional yield from these barrels.”

Where can I buy these expressions?

Whiskey glass — coldsnowstorm / istock

The Van Winkle Whiskey Collection is released in extremely limited quantities. It is nearly impossible to find if you don’t know someone who owns a store that gets an allotment of bottles or you win a lottery and get the chance to buy one. They retail between $129.99 (for the 10-year) and $449 (for the 23-year) but will be astronomically more expensive once they hit the secondary market. Happy hunting.

Christopher Osburn

Writer

Christopher Osburn is a food and drinks writer located in the Finger Lakes Region of New York. He's been writing professional

Topics

Liquor, Beer, Wine & Drinks

Food & Drink

Michter’s is set to release the 2025 batch of its 10 Year Kentucky Straight Rye

Michter's is releasing its popular rye whiskey next month

Michter's

If you're a whiskey drinker, you know what a big deal it is when Michter's releases one of its annual expressions. This time, it's the award-winning, fan-favorite Michter's 10-Year Kentucky Straight Rye. And if you're anything like us and eagerly awaiting this yearly release, you don't have to wait much longer because this single-barrel whiskey is hitting store shelves in June.
Michter's 10 Year Kentucky Straight Rye

If you didn't know it already, Michter's takes a unique aging approach. It's not just matured for ten years, and it's ready to go. Instead, the whiskey isn't allowed to be bottled until it reaches a specific flavor profile. It's not ready for consumers until Michter's Master Distiller Dan McKee and Michter's Master of Maturation Andrea Wilson say so. That said, even though this beloved expression that "10 Year", it likely spent a little longer in the barrel.

Food & Drink

5 things you should never do with your top-shelf whiskey

Things not to do if you splurge on whiskey that goes on the top shelf

Whiskey in a glass

So, you splurged and bought that expensive bottle of whiskey you’ve eyed every time you stopped by your local liquor store to grab a new bottle of Elijah Craig Small Batch or Knob Creek 9 Year. If I’ve learned anything in the almost 20 years I’ve been writing professionally about alcohol, it’s that good things (whiskey) come to those who wait.

You waited and finally forked over the few hundred dollars (or more) that were required to get your hands on that highly sought-after, hard-to-find small batch bourbon — after all, the time was right to treat yourself. Maybe it’s your birthday, or perhaps you’re simply hosting a party and want to look like a baller. For whatever reason, you purchased an expensive bottle of whiskey. What now? Well, I'll tell you what you never do with that expensive whiskey.
What not to do with expensive whiskey

Food & Drink

Rebel Bourbon is releasing a whiskey finished in Cabernet Franc barrels

Rebel Bourbon is launching another racing-themed whiskey

Rebel Bourbon

Bardstown, Kentucky's Rebel Bourbon is no stranger to car racing fans. The Official Bourbon of Richard Childress Racing has already launched a bourbon with two-time NASCAR Cup Series Champion Kyle Busch. Now, it's set to add to the racing-centric portfolio with a bourbon finished in wine barrels from Childress Vineyards.
Rebel 100 Childress Vineyards Cabernet Franc Barrel Finish

This limited-release expression begins as a wheated bourbon that's matured for four years before being finished in Childress Vineyards Cabernet Franc barrels. The result is a 100-proof whiskey with flavors like "sweet plums, honey, and bright berries."