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Old Rip Van Winkle

Distillery
Louisville, United States

Whiskies (130)

130 Old Rip Van Winkle whiskies are currently listed on Whiskybase.

About Old Rip Van Winkle

The Old Rip Van Winkle Distillery has a four generation history. The Van Winkle family’s involvement in the bourbon industry began in the late 1800s with Julian P. "Pappy" Van Winkle, Sr. He was a traveling salesman for the W.L. Weller and Sons wholesale house in Louisville, traveling around the state by horse and buggy. Pappy and a friend, Alex Farnsley, eventually bought the wholesale house and also purchased the A. Ph. Stitzel Distillery, which made bourbon for Weller. They merged the two companies and became the Stitzel-Weller Distillery. Their prominent brands were W.L. Weller, Old Fitzgerald, Rebel Yell, and Cabin Still.






In May of 1935 at the age of 61, Pappy opened the newly completed Stitzel-Weller Distillery in South Louisville. He had a heavy influence on the operations there until his death at the age of 91. His son, Julian, Jr. took over operations until he was forced by stockholders to sell the distillery in 1972. The rights to all of their brands were either sold with the distillery or to other distilleries.






After selling the distillery, Julian, Jr. resurrected a pre-prohibition label, the only one to which the Van Winkles kept the rights, called Old Rip Van Winkle. He used whiskey stocks from the old distillery to supply his brand. Julian junior’s son, Julian, III took over in 1981 when Julian, Jr. passed away. Julian, III has continued with the Van Winkle tradition of producing the highest quality wheated bourbon available. His son, Preston joined company in 2001 and the Van Winkles look to continue that tradition for generations to come.






As of May 2002, Buffalo Trace has produced the Van Winkle bourbons at the the Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, KY. All of the Van Winkle’s whiskey production now takes place at Buffalo Trace under the same strict guidelines the family has always followed in order to produce a superior quality product.




USA (Kentucky – Frankfort)

Country United States
Production Type Wheated bourbon and rye whiskey
Brands Produced Here Old Rip Van Winkle 10, Van Winkle Lot B 12, Pappy Van Winkle 15, 20, 23, Van Winkle Family Reserve Rye

Distillery Details

Capacity 10 MLPA (Buffalo Trace)
Water Source Kentucky limestone-filtered water
Grain Type Wheated bourbon mash bill
Distillation Type Column still distillation with copper doubler
Whisky Produced Old Rip Van Winkle 10 Year, Van Winkle Lot B 12 Year, Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve 15, 20, and 23 Year, Van Winkle Rye
Maltings on Site No
Washbacks (Open/ Closed) Closed
Yeast Type Buffalo Trace proprietary yeast
Fermentation Time ~72–96 hours
Spirit Stills Copper pot doubler stills
Spirit Stills Material Copper
Spirit Stills Shape Pot still
Spirit Still Type Doubler
Spirit Still Heating Steam
Condensors Yes
Maturation on Site? Yes
Cooperage on Site? No
Warehouse Type Traditional rickhouses
Warehouses Buffalo Trace rickhouses in Frankfort, Kentucky
Cask filling strength 62.5% ABV (125 proof, bourbon standard)
Angel's Share ~2–5% annually
Bottling on Site Yes

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