Buffalo Trace Mashbill No. 3: Here comes the wheat!!!

The ultimate unicorn, Pappy Van Winkle Family Reserve Series Bourbons.  These are the high end offerings of Buffalo Trace's Wheated Mash bill number 3.  How this mash bill came to be known is a story lore and absolute perfection.

Julian Van Winkle began as a travelling salesman fo the W.L. Weller and Sons Whiskey Blenders.  He ended up being a partner and co-founded the Stitzel-Weller Distillery in 1935 after prohibition ended.  "Pappy" as he was affectionately known developed his business on wheated mashbills, replacing Rye.  

Stitzel-Weller produced:

• Cabin Still (base offering)
• Weller, and
• Old Fitzgerald (premium),

All from the same wheated mash bill.  Any of those original bottles are now worth a high premium.  If you try one, you will understand why.  Different from today's production process, Pappy barreled all of his bourbon at a low entry proof.  Pappy also refused to bottle the premium Old Fitzgerald at less than 100 proof.  This created a creamy, velvety smooth and sweet bourbon.  He had high standards, and he refused to lower them.  If you get a chance to read the book "But always Fine Bourbon..." by Sally Van Winkle Campbell, please do so.  It is a true testament to Pappy and his legacy.  

Pappy retired in 1964, leaving his son Julian Van Winkle II in charge.  Pappy passed away in 1965, and the family of Stitzel-Weller's Co-founder Alex T. Farnsly eventually forced a sale.  Stitzel-Weller was sold in 1972, and went out of business in 1992.

Stitzel-Weller passed through many corporate hands from the 1970's through the 1990's.  It sold the rights and mash bill of Weller Bourbon to Buffalo Trace.  Old Fitzgerald ended up in the hands of Heaven Hills Distillery.  Today's Old Fitzgerald is still a wheated mash bill, but in my opinion does not do the name justice.

Buffalo Trace purchased the Weller Brand in 1999.  Since then, they have been producing a Full Line-Up of Weller Bourbons:

• Weller Special Reserve
• Weller Antique 107
• Weller 12 Year
• Weller Full Proof
• Weller Single Barrel, and
• Weller CYPB (Create Your Perfect Bourbon).

From the 1970's, Julian Van Winkle III, began Old Rip Van Winkle Distillery and used old Stitzel-Weller sitting barrels to bottle premium bourbons.  In the late 1990's he began running out of original Stitzel-Weller stock.  In 2002, he signed an agreement with Buffalo Trace to produce bourbons for his brand.  This worked well, since Weller still used the same wheated mash bill.   

Today, Buffalo Trace and Old Rip Van Win Winkle Distillery produce:

• Old Rip Van Winkle 10yr
• Lot "B" Van Winkle Family Reserve 12yr
• Pappy Van Winkle Family Reserve 15yr
• Pappy Van Winkle Family Reserve 20yr
• Pappy Van Winkle Family Reserve 23yr, and
• Van Winkle Family Reserve Rye (Mash bill Number 4).

Everything but the Rye is from the same Weller Mash bill.  The difference is where they are left untouched in the rickhouse to mature. 

I am sitting and enjoying a Pappy 20yr as I write this.  The bottle was opened a couple months ago, and it has really opened up. This is the greatest bourbon I have ever tasted.  It is rich with caramel.  Long lasting finish with a little bit of oak and smoke to it.  When you bring the glass up to your nose for a drink, the smell is just as wonderful as the drink itself. I have to admit, I get almost as much joy drinking the 1968 Old Fitzgerald 6 year, and 1970 Very Old Fitzgerald 8 year as I do with this bourbon.  They are truly comparable and unmatched.

I do like sharing, and I cannot wait to have Bob and hopefully Eric over to enjoy this mash bill on a podcast.  I have done a few of them separately, but they deserve the proper companions for a taste test.  Please stay tuned for Episode 16- Buffalo Trace Wheated Mashbill.  And as always- please like, share, and give us 5 stars!

Cheers!

Dan

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