Van Winkle Family Reserve 13 Year Old, New Charred American Oak Cask, 2008, 47.8%

The original Family Reserve Rye was presumed to have been distilled at Medley in Owensboro, and acquired by Julian III through his connection to Stitzel-Weller, as United Distillers closed it down in the same year. The whiskey is also thought to have had the 1980s-distilled "Cream of Kentucky" rye from George T. Stagg blended though it prior to being tanked in 2004. The rye was the last of the rem... Julian P. "Pappy" Van Winkle Sr. truly was a wise man who kicked off a family of fine bourbon makers with his mantra to make the spirit "at a profit if we can, at a loss if we must, but always a fine bourbon". In 1893, he set out as a travelling salesman for W. L. Weller & Sons until eventually he and a friend saved up to purchase what would become known as the Stitzel-Weller Distillery. They qui...