(Image Source: Buffalo Trace)

America's most sought after bourbon, Buffalo Trace's Van Winkle, has announced the 2022 annual release of its core six expressions - Old Rip Van Winkle Handmade Bourbon 10 Year Old, Van Winkle Special Reserve Bourbon 12 Year Old, 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 finally, Pappy Van Winkle's Family Reserve Bourbon 23 Year Old.

“To the delight of whiskey fans, there will be more bottles available this year than usual of almost every Van Winkle expression due to both putting away more whiskey to age over 10 years ago and a higher yield than typical when moving from barrel to bottle,”

Buffalo Trace

The collection will be available starting in October 2022. It marks the 20th anniversary of the partnership between the Van Winkle family and Buffalo Trace.

“Harlen Wheatley and his predecessors had been distilling the W.L. Weller wheated recipe for many years before our 2002 joint venture. We trusted their expertise in distilling and aging, and it paid off, as many of Buffalo Trace’s brands are just as sought after as our own,” Van Winkle III said.

“My son Preston and I still take care of the marketing and management of our brands, but we leave the rest of it to the team at Buffalo Trace. The twenty-year partnership has flown by, and I feel confident we’re leaving it in good hands for the future Van Winkle generations.”

The 2022 Van Winkle Lineup Details and Tasting Notes Via Buffalo Trace

Old Rip Van Winkle Handmade Bourbon 10-Year-Old

Suggested Retail Price: $69.99
Proof: 107

Color

Tawny in color.

Nose

Very sweet, with notes of honey, dulce de leche, caramel corn, rooibos tea and lightly toasted nuts. Hints of the wheat and corn are present which enhances the complexity.

Taste

Butterscotch and toffee are prominent in the taste but there are also hints of spiced praline which contribute to the long, round finish that is sweet without being cloying.

Finish

An outrageously well-crafted bourbon that pays homage to its source ingredients but shows that oak, the right distillate, and patience can create unparalleled depth and balance.

Van Winkle Special Reserve Bourbon 12-Year-Old

Suggested Retail Price: $79.99
Proof: 90.4

Color

Brilliant amber.

Nose

Rich and decadent with butterscotch, toffee, vanilla and hints of nectarine and satsuma adding to the complexity. There is still a wisp of bready wheat present which is perfectly balanced with the spicy and rich oak notes.

Taste

Butterscotch and toffee are prominent in the taste but there are also hints of spiced praline which contribute to the long, round finish that is sweet without being cloying.

Finish

An outrageously well-crafted bourbon that pays homage to its source ingredients but shows that oak, the right distillate, and patience can create unparalleled depth and balance.

Van Winkle Family Reserve Rye 13-Year-Old

Suggested Retail Price: $119.99
Proof: 95.6

Color

Rich copper color.

Nose

An incredibly enticing and complex aroma with notes of toasted pumpernickel, plum, fig, and sweet-tobacco aromas.

Taste

Smooth with medium-to full-bodied palate bursting with bold and delicious flavors of toffee, caraway, and dried cherry, and a hint of leather and mint.

Finish

A symphony of flavors sits endlessly on the palate, causing the unsuspecting drinker to wish there was an endless supply in their glass.

Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve Bourbon 15-Year-Old

Suggested Retail Price: $119.99
Proof: 107

Color

Striking, brilliant, copper color.

Nose

The aroma is seductive with intense sweet brown notes like maple, caramelized sugar, toffee, and toasted almond.

Taste

Waves of caramel and toffee meld into familiar memories of fresh-baked holiday spice cookies made with molasses. The mouthfeel is rich, supple, full-bodied and briefly veers toward decadent before the wood influences lend a balancing dryness.

Finish

Long, flavorful, and complex. An unbelievably opulent and flawless bourbon that takes wood and distillate to its absolute pinnacle.

Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve Bourbon 20-Year-Old

Suggested Retail Price: $199.99
Proof: 90.4

Color

Dark amber in appearance with ruby highlights.

Nose

This full-bodied bourbon has a sophisticated forefront of leather with complementary notes of smoke, warm tobacco, treacle, espresso, and charred oak.

Taste

The aromas and flavors are endlessly complex and each new sip reveals something new to discover.

Finish

Suave and confident with layers of bold, integrated nuances.

Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve Bourbon 23-Year-Old

Suggested Retail Price: $299.99
Proof: 95.6

Color

Rich mahogany color.

Nose

Reminiscent of a crisp fall day, with aromas of ripe red apples, cherries and tobacco.

Taste

Wood is the star here with supporting notes of caramel, apple, apricot, leather, walnuts, and vanilla Crème Brulé.

Finish

Long-lasting and rich, opening with bold flavors of oak and caramel that tease the palate before fading slowly and elegantly until the next sip.

Kanpai!

@111hotpot