Latest news with #VanWinkle
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Buffalo Trace Is Auctioning Off Coveted Pappy Van Winkle and More Whiskeys for Kentucky Storm Relief
Kentucky has been rocked by a series of floods and devastating storms over the past few months, including one flood that shut down the Buffalo Trace Distillery for a period of time. In order to raise money for relief efforts to help those affected by these natural disasters, the distillery is auctioning off some of its most popular and collectible whiskeys starting today, along with a few special experiences. The initiative is called the Pour It Forward for Kentucky Charity Fundraiser, and it includes items donated by parent company Sazerac and some of its partners (the Van Winkle family, Chris and Morgane Stapleton, the PGA) to raise money for people impacted by the deadly tornado earlier this month and the severe flooding in April. The items are listed at the website BlockBar, and 100 percent of the proceeds will go to benefit the American Red Cross and the Franklin County Flood Relief Fund held at the Blue Grass Community Foundation. More from Robb Report Valentino Cofounder Giancarlo Giammetti Just Listed His Manhattan Penthouse for $17.5 Million Oil Nut Bay Just Unveiled a New Overwater Spa in the British Virgin Islands Michter Just Dropped Its Annual 10-Year-Old Rye Whiskey 'The recent spring storms have had a profound impact on communities across Kentucky and, especially in times like these, it's essential that we rally people to support our neighbors in need,' said Jake Wenz, Sazerac and Buffalo Trace president and CEO, in a statement. 'Buffalo Trace remains committed to supporting our home state, and every bid placed is a step toward helping our community recover.' There are some fantastic whiskeys up for auction, some of which are the most collectible and coveted bottles produced at the distillery. These include some real unicorns like Weller Millennium (a blend of whiskeys aged up to 25 years), Eagle Rare 25 (which originally retailed for $10,000), and O.F.C. Vintage 2005 (valuable, although maybe not as much as the older vintages). There are also some of the most popular Buffalo Trace whiskeys available in complete sets—Pappy Van Winkle, the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection, the 2024 Prohibition Collection, and the entire E.H. Taylor Jr. lineup. A bottle of 20-year-old Double Eagle Very Rare is also available, and it comes with a coffee table made from a barrel used to age that whiskey. It's not just bottles that are up for auction, however. There's the Sazerac Barrel Select experience, which includes a stay at the Stagg Lodge, a tour of the distillery, and a chance to pick a barrel of Blanton's Gold. Chris and Morgane Stapleton donated an Epiphone Hummingbird Studio guitar and a bottle of Chris's collab with Buffalo Trace, Traveller Whiskey, each emblazoned with an autograph. There's also a trip for two to Forth Worth, Texas, to visit the set where the Yellowstone spinoff Y: Marshals is being filmed. Finally, there are two ongoing sweepstakes: one for a chance to win a bottle of O.F.C. Vintage 2006, the other sponsored by the PGA for a chance to play golf at the PLAYERS Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass and a pair of Buffalo Trace Bettinardi golf putters. The Pour It Forward for Kentucky auction starts today and will run through 10 a.m. on Thursday, June 5. Visit BlockBar now if you're interested; bids start at $100 for each lot with no reserves. Best of Robb Report Why a Heritage Turkey Is the Best Thanksgiving Bird—and How to Get One 9 Stellar West Coast Pinot Noirs to Drink Right Now The 10 Best Wines to Pair With Steak, From Cabernet to Malbec Click here to read the full article.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Yahoo
Rare Pappy Van Winkle up for grabs to support Habitat for Humanity Lexington
LEXINGTON, Ky. (FOX 56) — Habitat for Humanity is still offering a bourbon raffle with multiple bottles of Pappy Van Winkle up for grabs. Rare Pappy Van Winkle up for grabs to support Habitat for Humanity Lexington Owensboro father arrested after police find fentanyl pills near 1-year-old Man arrested for DUI while child in vehicle in Christian County The Lexington branch said there is less than a month left to enter to win six bottles of the Pappy, all while supporting its mission to build strength, stability, and self-reliance through shelter. The grand prize winner will net a variety of bottles, including: Pappy Van Winkle's Family Reserve 23 Year Pappy Van Winkle's Family Reserve 20 Year Pappy Van Winkle's Family Reserve 15 Year Van Winkle Family Reserve Rye 13 Year Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Old Rip Van Winkle 10 Year A runner-up prize is also available, featuring other prizes for bourbon collectors and experiences, including: Weller Full Proof Stagg KY Straight Bourbon Blanton's Original Single Barrel (we have 2 bottles, so there will be 2 winners) TKC Single Barrel Straight Bourbon, signed by Wes Henderson Woodford Reserve Master's Collection Batch 121.2 Proof True Story Finished Bourbon and True Story Rye, signed by founder Wes Henderson Knob Creek 12 Year and McAfee's Benchmark No 8 Wildcask Bourbon, signed bottle, and private tour of the James B. Beam Institute for Kentucky Spirits at the University of Kentucky Justin's House of Bourbon Rare Bourbon Tasting To enter the raffle, visit the Pappy with a Purpose 2025 website and purchase a $100 ticket. Drug overdoses see major decline: How Kentucky measures up UFO sightings in Kentucky: A look back on past 30 years List: 5 Big Lots stores in Kentucky reopening this week A notice on the website warns that the IRS has taken the position that amounts paid for chances in raffles, lotteries, or similar drawings for valuable prizes are not gifts and do not qualify as deductible charitable contributions. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Forbes
22-04-2025
- General
- Forbes
The World's Best Whiskey Is A Bourbon, According To The London Spirit Competition
W.L. Weller Antique 107 Bourbon Buffalo Trace Distilery In the world of whiskey, few names stir up as much reverence—and market frenzy—as W.L. Weller. And now, with W.L. Weller Antique 107 clinching "Spirit of the Year" and "Best Spirit by Quality" at the 2025 London Spirits Competition, the bourbon world just got another loud, clear reminder: this wheated whiskey isn't just riding coattails—it's setting the pace. Let's be clear—this isn't a fluke. The judges didn't just fall for pretty packaging or clever branding. They were swayed by what insiders have been saying for years: Weller 107 is the real deal. Rich, layered, and unapologetically bold, it's a bourbon that manages to walk the tightrope between power and elegance. Crafted at the storied Buffalo Trace Distillery, Weller 107 shares a family tree with the famed—and nearly mythical—Van Winkle line. They spring from the same mash bill, one that trades rye's spicy punch for wheat's soft sweetness. A choice originally masterminded by the legendary Julian "Pappy" Van Winkle himself and embraced by William Larue Weller who the Weller line is named after. The result? A spirit that leans into caramel, vanilla, and oak with a texture that coats the palate like velvet. Buffalo Trace isn't just another distillery—it's the beating heart of American bourbon. Perched along the banks of the Kentucky River in Frankfort, it has been producing whiskey for over 200 years, surviving wars, recessions, and even Prohibition (thanks to a medicinal whiskey license). Today, it's the engine behind a powerhouse portfolio that includes not just Weller and Van Winkle but modern legends like Eagle Rare, Blanton's, and E.H. Taylor. What sets Buffalo Trace apart isn't just history—it's an obsessive focus on consistency, innovation, and quality that continues to define the industry standard. The W.L Weller Antique lineup. Buffalo Trace Distilery That same commitment is on full display in Weller 107. Bottled at a commanding 107 proof, this is not a whiskey for the faint of heart. It delivers a big, expressive profile—honeyed richness, dark fruit complexity, and a warming spice finish—that's best appreciated neat and with a moment of reverence. Unlike many super-premium bourbons, Weller 107 doesn't sport an age statement—that's by design. Instead of being locked into arbitrary numbers, Buffalo Trace's master blenders let taste dictate the timing, pulling barrels when they're peaking rather than when the calendar says so. That approach is paying off—in awards, acclaim, and sky-high demand. Which brings us to the catch: good luck finding it. Once a sleeper hit on shelves, Weller 107 is now a unicorn bottle. Thanks to limited releases and a collector market gone wild, prices on the secondary market have soared, often reaching multiples of MSRP. What was once a bourbon for the people has become, in many circles, a status symbol. Still, at its core, Weller 107 remains what it's always been: a link to bourbon's heritage, a product of patience and intention, and a testament to what happens when tradition meets taste. Whether it ends up opened on a special night or tucked away in a locked cabinet, one thing's sure: this bottle means business. Follow here for the most up to date information about the ever changing beer, wine, and spirits industry.
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Study indicates $20M cost to restore site of Mayhew Cabin and John Brown's Cave
Historians differ about whether the Allen Mayhew Cabin, built in 1852, was a stop on the Underground Railroad. But the cabin, built from cottonwood, is one of the oldest structures in Nebraska, predating statehood. (Paul Hammel/Nebraska Examiner) LINCOLN — An assessment of restoring the historic Mayhew Cabin and John Brown's Cave site in Nebraska City estimates it would cost in excess of $20 million to make it a viable attraction again. Most of the cost, the report indicated, would be demolishing several of the seven existing structures on the site, which have been damaged by flooding and neglect. Building a new museum to interpret the cabin, a site used by escaping slaves on the Underground Railroad during the Civil War, would cost $3 million alone, according to the assessment by the architectural firm, Clark & Enerson. Cathleen Van Winkle, the president of the foundation that owns the Mayhew Cabin complex, said she was not surprised by the expensive repair estimate, given the extensive damage caused by flooding in 2019 and 2013. Van Winkle, in an email on Friday, said that the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, which paid for the assessment, has told the Foundation that there is 'little likelihood' that the Nebraska Legislature will appropriate money to rebuild the museum due to state budget shortfalls. Still, she said, she's hopeful something might be done during the current legislative session. 'If funding fails, the Foundation will have no choice but to go back to square one to begin looking for other partners and alternative plans to save the cabin and its rich history,' Van Winkle said. Another member of the Foundation board, Robert Nelson, an Underground Railroad historian and former columnist with the Omaha World-Herald, said he's hopeful the cabin can be saved and become part of a historic byway being developed along the 'Lane Trail.' That is a Civil War-era pathway from Iowa to Kansas used by escaping slaves as well as Abolitionists — including John Brown — seeking to join the fight against pro-slavery forces in Kansas. 'We'll do anything to save the (Mayhew) cabin,' Nelson said in an interview. 'We'd love it to be as close as possible to this trail.' The Mayhew Cabin, which is listed on the National Park Service Underground Railroad Network to Freedom, has been closed since the 2019 flooding. The flooding prompted the Mayhew Foundation to sue unsuccessfully the City of Nebraska City, claiming it was negligent for allowing runoff from the nearby ravine to damage the site and its structures. Other calamities have damaged the site, including a 2013 flood, a large tree that fell atop a church on the property, and a series of sewage backups at a museum structure, which has a sinking foundation. The museum also has seen two break-ins in recent years. If funding fails, the Foundation will have no choice but to go back to square one to begin looking for other partners and alternative plans to save the cabin and its rich history. – Cathleen Van Winkle, president of the foundation that owns the Mayhew Cabin complex The recent study indicated that the underground tunnel — a 'cave' that a Mayhew family member has said was used to store potatoes, not by escaping slaves — was deemed unstable and in need of replacement. Replacement was also recommended for the museum, which the engineers estimated would cost $100,000 to demolish and $3 million for a new museum. Also recommended to be demolished and replaced were a railroad depot, a church and a picnic shelter on the property, which are all owned by the Foundation. Due to a lack of funds, the Foundation has been unable to make any repairs since the site was closed in 2019. In 2023, the Foundation signed a letter of intent to donate the site to the Game and Parks Commission, which led to the site assessment. Some fans of the Mayhew Cabin site have other ideas. That includes a Peru State professor, Sara Crook, who does historical portrayals of the older sister of John Kagi, an abolitionist who brought escaped slaves to the cabin and was a friend of John Brown. Crook, who is on the state Hall of Fame Commission, said that in her opinion, only the Mayhew Cabin needs to be saved and preserved, which would reduce the cost of restoring the site substantially. In an email to the Examiner, Jim Swenson, the assistant director of the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, said that after meeting with the Mayhew Foundation board this week 'there may be revisions in scope to reduce the cost.' Crook also said that the Nebraska State Historical Society would be a more appropriate agency to lead the restoration, rather than the Game and Parks Commission. Whether the cabin should remain where it is, in a flood-prone location, or moved elsewhere in Nebraska City or Lincoln or another community, is another question. The site assessment recommended that the cabin — which was moved from its original site due to the widening of an adjacent highway — be relocated onto a more stable foundation. John Brown's Cave has served as a tourist attraction since the 1930s. But over the years, the focus of the site has shifted from the cave and any connection to the famed abolitionist John Brown, to the role of the Mayhew family and of one of its relatives, John Kagi. Kagi, who lived several months at the Mayhew Cabin, helped slaves escape northward from nearby slave states, like Missouri, to reach freedom. He was second in command to Brown during the failed raid on Harper's Ferry, West Virginia, on Oct. 17, 1859. Kagi was killed during the raid. Four years earlier, Kagi had lived with his sister Barbara Mayhew and her husband, Allen, at a Mayhew Cabin. A 2002 article for the Nebraska State Historical Society's magazine stated that Kagi had once brought 14 escaped slaves to the Nebraska City cabin, who, after eating breakfast, continued on foot northward. A letter from Edward Mayhew, Barbara and Allen's son, refuted earlier newspaper accounts that Brown himself had guided escaped slaves to freedom through a tunnel underneath the Mayhew cabin. The son said the cave was dug for storing potatoes, that slaves never used it and that John Brown never visited it. The cabin was moved to its current location in 1937 to accommodate the construction of Highway 2, which has since been relocated to the south edge of Nebraska City. The tunnel beneath the cabin was dug in hopes of attracting tourists, according to a 2014 article evaluating sites on the Underground Railroad. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
25-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Over 1,700 bottles of rare whiskey up for grabs in Pennsylvania lottery
HARRISBURG, Pa. (WTAJ) — More than 1,700 bottles of rare whiskey from the Van Winkle and Buffalo Trace Antique Collections are up for grabs in a limited-release lottery, Pennsylvania residents and licensees will have until 5 p.m. Friday, Feb. 28, to opt into one or more lotteries. There will be two separate lotteries for each collection totaling 1,775 bottles of rare whiskeys. You can enter by clicking here. Lotteries will be held in the following order: Buffalo Trace Antique Collection Lottery The first lottery will feature 496 bottles from the BTAC. Winning entries are limited to one bottle per participant, and if a participant wins a bottle in a drawing within this lottery, they will be removed from subsequent drawings in this lottery. Purchase is limited to one bottle per participant for the BTAC lottery. The retail price for each 750-milliliter bottle in this collection is $149.99: Eagle Rare Straight Bourbon 17-year-old – 16 bottles for individual consumers, five for licensees Sazerac Straight Rye Whiskey 18-year-old – 18 bottles for individual consumers, six for licensees William Larue Weller Straight Bourbon Barrel Proof – 68 bottles for individual consumers, 22 for licensees George T. Stagg Straight Bourbon Barrel Proof – 126 bottles for individual consumers, 42 for licensees Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Straight Rye Whiskey Barrel Proof – 145 bottles for individual consumers, 48 for licensees The Van Winkle Lottery The second lottery will feature 1,279 bottles of Kentucky whiskeys, produced by Pappy Van Winkle's grandson using recipes dating back four generations. Winning entries are limited to one bottle per participant, and if a participant wins a bottle in a drawing within this lottery, they will be removed from subsequent drawings in this lottery. Purchase is limited to one bottle per participant for the Van Winkle lottery. Drawings will be held, in the following order, to award the right to purchase individual bottles: Van Winkle Family Reserve Straight Rye Whiskey 13-year-old, $199.99 each – 45 bottles for individual consumers, 15 for licensees Pappy Van Winkle's Family Reserve Straight Bourbon 23-year-old, $449.99 each – 52 bottles for individual consumers, 17 for licensees Pappy Van Winkle's Family Reserve Straight Bourbon 15-year-old, $199.99 each – 52 bottles for individual consumers, 17 for licensees Pappy Van Winkle's Family Reserve Straight Bourbon 20-year-old, $319.99 each – 129 bottles for individual consumers, 42 for licensees Old Rip Van Winkle Handmade Straight Bourbon 10-year-old, $129.99 each – 207 bottles for individual consumers, 69 for licensees Van Winkle Special Reserve Straight Bourbon 12-year-old, $149.99 each – 476 bottles for individual consumers, 158 for licensees Both retail and licensee entrants are encouraged to review the lottery Terms and Conditions before entering the Limited-Release Lotteries. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
