Pappy Van Winkle 20 Year

Had the pleasure of enjoying 3 fresh cracks 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 Wheater is too soft for my preferred flavor profile so Pappy overall comes up a little short for me personally - especially at todays 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 ones 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 shelves 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 1st 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 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 BTAC Michter's 25 Michter's 20, OFC, Abraham Bowman Cask Strength and so many others take 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 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 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 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 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 again whiskey is subjective - an impressive pour that falls short of what my top pour deliver in the palate At 15 - 18 times retail todays 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 its ones self 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

Dark amber, really sticky. A few legs... Wheat jumps out on the nose. Creme brulee, fig preserves, a bit of spice that I thought would have come from rye (but clearly can't) A faint cardboard note that isn't unpleasant... Just noteworthy. Opens with a balanced sweetness and rolls out with everything you'd want in a wheater. There's an interesting fruity note that I can't explain, but is incredible. Somewhere between stone fruit and pear. No shortage of vanilla... It's easy to get why it's proofed down, as I'd imagine it would just be too much if offered at a higher proof... No water needed, this is incredibly well balanced and has as finish as long as anything I've ever tried.

Spiced oak aroma, musty and aged like mahogany. Smallest hint of sweetness toasted caramel. Touch of acetone too. Same flavor profile dominates the palate, a complex wash of wood, seems like more woods than just oak but I don't really know. The tail feels longer than the body, there's a good amount of creamy richness but I expected a tad more for the age. The tail still carries the flavor beautifully long into a tingly woody tail. Just like the nose, sweetness is there but takes a backseat. Vanilla and darker caramel sauce. Taste more honey as I sip. The bar's bottle was rather low, I wonder if maybe it has oxidized a bit.

Lovely sweet and old oak spicy. 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

N- sweet vanilla and oak- apple- P- warm and thick- coats the mouth - leather and fruit oil- vanilla F- more oak and leather- Apple and cinnamon- light vanilla-not a long burn- but smooth warm burn- In years past it’s been all orange for me- this is more apple- I sadly prefer the orange of the older bottles- still fantastic bourbon- just a strange fruit change for me tonight

Pappy Van Winkle's Family Reserve Bourbon 20-Year-Old is an elegant, Straight Bourbon Whiskey from Kentucky. It has an aromatic birth with notes of burnt caramel, dried fruit & syrup; while a rich life adds notes of maple syrup & butter; that led to a long, sweet & spicy death with notes of cinnamon, toasty oak & vanilla. February / June 2018 / July 2022