Nooooooo! 65 Cases Of Pappy Van Winkle Stolen.

[Redlinerobert]

As if the stuff wasn't already difficult to buy.  Will be even tougher this year I imagine.

 

Pappy Van Winkle has long been hard to find. This fall could prove even harder.

Roughly 200 bottles of the rare and wildly popular small-batch bourbon have vanished from the Frankfort, Ky., distillery. The bottles were waiting to be shipped across the country after aging in charred oak barrels for two decades.

 

 

20-year-old Pappy Van Winkle F. Martin Ramin for The Wall Street Journal

Sazerac Co.'s Buffalo Trace Distillery alerted authorities this week after an inventory check came up short. The stash of Pappy Van Winkle's 20-Year Family Reserve—worth a combined $25,000 at retail—had been in a locked area inside a locked warehouse.

Franklin County Sheriff Pat Melton said "everything would point" to an inside job and that the bourbon probably was spirited out by employees over several weeks. But the criminal investigation is ongoing and "anybody and everybody's on the table right now," he added.

 

 

 

Supplies are always tight for Pappy Van Winkle, a favorite among bourbon aficionados. Now, the small-batch spirit might be harder to find: about $25,000 worth disappeared from Buffalo Trace Distillery's Kentucky facility this week. Mike Esterl reports. Photo: Getty.

Bourbon whiskey, made mostly from corn, is enjoying a renaissance as more Americans turn to brown spirits and domestic distillers. Bourbon production topped one million barrels last year for the first time since 1973. About 95% of the liquor is made in Kentucky, where distillers have invested nearly $300 million over the past two years to quench growing thirst.

But Pappy Van Winkle has generated more buzz than most during the upswing, in part because there is so little of it. Only about 6,000 to 7,000 9-liter cases are distributed each year. Jim Beam, Beam Inc.'s market-leading bourbon brand, sells about 7 million cases.

"It's insanely popular and it's rare," said Lew Bryson, managing editor of Whisky Advocate, referring to Pappy Van Winkle.

The brand traces its roots back to Julian P. "Pappy" Van Winkle, who began selling bourbon in 1893 and made a name for himself by using wheat instead of rye in the mash to complement the corn. Today, his grandson Julian III sells Pappy Van Winkle in partnership with Buffalo Trace. Few distillers age their bourbon for 20 years; Pappy Van Winkle also sells a 23-year-old version.

Whisky Advocate has given the 20-year-old Pappy a rating of 92, or "outstanding," and describes it in a review as "rich, mature aromas of vanilla, cinnamon, leather, teaberry, coconut, and dark fruit—very complex indeed."

The 20-year-old Pappy has a suggested retail price of $119 and Sazerac says annual shipments should be arriving in liquor stores in the coming days—but good luck locating a bottle.

Andrew Yanke said the large Crown Liquors store he manages in Indianapolis got all of four bottles last fall and still doesn't know its allotment for this year. Whatever it receives will be sold to its top customers who have already put in requests.

"We don't ever put them on a shelf. Customers would probably break out in a fight," said Mr. Yanke, adding the store gets about 50 emails a day asking about Pappy's availability.

Mark Brown, Sazerac's CEO, said it's "a big mystery" where the stolen Pappy will wind up.

A secondary market has surfaced for drinkers who can't find their favorite bourbons in bars or stores and are willing to pay up.

Bottles of 20- and 23-year Pappy were being offered Thursday on Craigslist for $800 and $875, respectively. A seller in Manhattan was offering a Pappy "Decanter Set" including 114-proof Pappy barreled in 1986, cherry wood box, two rocks glasses and handcrafted glass decanter for $6,999.

On eBay, 20-year Pappy bottles were being offered at $48.95 and $69.00—but the bottles were empty. A Pappy velvet bag was being offered for $30.

Mr. Melton, Franklin County's sheriff, said anyone convicted of stealing the bottles from the distillery could spend one to five years in prison. "Some people would probably say they need to be hung," said Mr. Melton, adding that he has never tasted Pappy.

[quanjig]

I am now on a quest!!

[MCS]

This just in LOL

 

http://www.state-journal.com/latest%20headlines/2013/10/28/bardstown-high-school-principal-denies-pappy-theft

 

How many cases to they produce in a year? that has to be a pretty good amount of the yearly release right?......Me think they did it just to raise the price LOL

[Fishing Rhino]

Makes me glad I never acquired or developed a taste for adult beverages.  Maybe when I'm an adult ..........................

[Root beer]

Man, I'm curious what it tastes like. Never had had end bottles and for some stupid reason I want buy a nice bottle for my birthday just for poop and giggle.

[Brian Needham]

anyone know 00Mod's alibi???

[A-Jay]

anyone know 00Mod's alibi???

 

Hey - He was with ME, the whole time.

 

There ya go Jeff - now don't forget to bring those bottles you promised.

 

A-Jay

[Brian Needham]

I just need my "be quite" bottle and all is well.....

[VolFan]

I have had several of the Pappy line, and all are worth the price of admission.

[00 mod]

I agree with most are worth the price of admission. The 23yr is hard to swallow at $270 a bottle but the 20 might be the best whiskey for the money I have ever had......coincidence......????

Jeff

[Hi Salenity]

Is all of the Van Winkle line hard to get or just the Pappy?

[00 mod]

Pappy is harder, but all is very allocated. 

 

Jeff