Pappy Van Winkle 20 Year

Had the pleasure of enjoying 3 fresh bottles on January 27th 2022. All 3 were 2021 releases: 15 Year, 20 Year, 23 Year. I repeatedly nosed, tasted & repeated over & over again with a sip of water in between. No water added to any of the pours. All with whiskey is subjective. With that said, a wheated bourbon is too soft for my preferred flavor profile, so Pappy overall comes up a little short for me personally, especially at today's secondary prices. At the price I paid per pour, I consider this a rare and special treat that I did enjoy. At retail, awesome bottles to have within one's bar. At secondary, a pass for me. At this hotel bar, worth it & special as less than secondary... much more than retail, but that's what is to be expected at a nice hotel or a nice steakhouse, etc. are hopefully to have top shelf pours that are up there in cost but at less than secondary. Fresh cracks as was the case with all 3 bottles was definitely an added treat. Last sip was probably 1 hour plus after first poured, so there was time for them to all open up. Pappy 15 = cost 65 per oz - Current secondary = 2800 or 110 per oz. Pappy 20 = cost 100 per oz Current secondary = 3850 or 150 per oz. Pappy 23 = cost 125 per oz Current secondary = 4700 or 185 per oz. When I was younger, Johnny Walker Blue was an impressive pour, an impressive pour to have in your home bar, an impressive drink to savor or share at a bar on vacation or... So much has changed. Pappy, Buffalo Trace Antique Collection, Michter's 25, Michter's 20, OFC, Abraham Bowman Cask Strength, and so many others take the top spot in the ultimate pour to savor, to share, or to stumble across at a bar. My review: The 15 shined. It shined from nose to palate. 15 was the most rounded. Nose was filled with sweetness - fruit - just the right amount of oak. Palate is classic bourbon flavor profile - tasty - well rounded - not insanely complex. Palate follows through as well rounded, no heat, tasty from nosing to palate. 4.50/5 (if it was not Pappy deduct.25 = 4.25). Pappy 20: I had the pleasure of having 2 oz of 2019 & I believe I enjoyed it a little bit more. 5 years really ups the oak from nose to palate. Nose: Oak with the traditional caramel, vanilla, chocolate, RICH!!! Palate: more richness, more oak. Finish - follows through as another consistent pour from nose to finish. This pour = 4.25/5 - 2019 I would rate at 4.5 (if it was not Pappy deduct.25 = 4.0 2021 / 4.25 - 2019). Pappy 23: 8 years continues to up the oak from nose to palate, very similar to the 20 year. Nose: Oak with the traditional caramel, vanilla, chocolate, RICH, RICHER THAN THE 20 but not immensely different. Palate: added richness, more oak, added complexity. Finish - follows through as another consistent pour from nose to finish. This pour = 4.25/5 (if it was not Pappy deduct.25 = 4.00). My ratings explained: Having Pappy is truly a special pour to be appreciated, so I imagine I have added.25 to each score mentally because of that. Because of actual cost, I also feel I can deduct.25 of a point. If I could have any of these bottles at double retail, I would gladly add all 3 to my home bar. At triple retail, I would need to give some thought as to do I want all 3?? The 15 definitely. The 20 & 23 are impressive, but only mentally. Whiskey is subjective - an impressive pour that falls short of what my top pours deliver in the palate. At 15 - 18 times retail today's going rate, I would never pay that = hard pass. Pappy has entered the realm of a prestigious pour that has priced itself out of making any sense of purchasing at secondary, except to impress, even if it's oneself. As truth be told, all 3 impressed me... but as a special treat by the pour, I say treat yourself as well - we work hard and deserve the best - but cannot recommend buying a bottle at 3850.

Deep amber color, quite viscous. Some legs observed... The aroma is dominated by wheat. Notes of creme brulee, fig preserves, and a touch of spice that I initially attributed to rye, though that's not possible. A subtle, but not unwelcome, cardboard scent... It's just worth mentioning. The palate begins with a harmonious sweetness and develops into everything expected from a wheated bourbon. An intriguing, inexplicable fruitiness emerges, which is fantastic. It has qualities of both stone fruit and pear. Plenty of vanilla is present... The decision to lower the proof makes sense, as it would likely be overwhelming at a higher proof... No dilution is necessary; this expression is exceptionally well-integrated and boasts a finish that rivals the longest I've encountered.

The aroma is of spiced oak, musty, and aged like mahogany. There's a slight touch of sweetness, like toasted caramel, and a hint of acetone. The palate echoes the nose, offering a complex wash of wood, appearing to include more than just oak. The finish seems longer than the body, with good creamy richness, though I anticipated a bit more for its age. The finish lingers beautifully, carrying the flavor into a tingly, woody conclusion. Similar to the aroma, sweetness is present but subdued. Flavors of vanilla and darker caramel sauce emerge, with more honey noticeable as I drink. The level in the bar's bottle was quite low; I suspect it might have oxidized.

Beautifully sweet with aged wood and a spicy character. Nose: Caramel, Vanilla, Honey, Pecan Pie, Leather, Coffee, Tobacco, Dark Chocolate, Bananas, Cloves, Oranges, Cherries, Spearmint, Maple Syrup, Lavender, White Chocolate, Pineapples, Marshmallows, Nutmeg Palate: Caramel, Cinnamon, Anise, Walnuts, Almonds, Cashews, Vanilla, Nutmeg, Brown Sugar, Coffee, Pecans, Leather, Cloves, Mint, Pepper, Maple Syrup, Honey Finish: Oak, Leather, Dark Chocolate, Maple Syrup, Honey, Cherries, Toffee, Spearmint, Anise, Licorice, Vanilla, Caramel, Cloves

Nose: Sugary vanilla and wood notes, with apple. Palate: A warm, viscous texture that coats the palate, featuring leather, fruit oil, and vanilla. Finish: Additional wood and leather notes mingle with apple and cinnamon, plus a subtle vanilla. The finish isn't lengthy, but it's a smooth, warm sensation. In prior years, this presented predominantly with orange notes for me; this time it's more apple-forward. While I unfortunately favor the orange from previous bottlings, it remains a superb bourbon, just an unusual fruit variation for me this evening.

Pappy Van Winkle's Family Reserve Bourbon 20-Year-Old is an elegant Straight Bourbon Whiskey from Kentucky. It begins aromatically with notes of burnt sugar, dried fruit, and syrup. Its rich life adds flavors of maple syrup and butter, leading to a long, sweet, and spicy finish with hints of cinnamon, toasted oak, and vanilla. Tasted in February/June 2018 and July 2022.