Soba45
Pappy Van Winkle 15 Year
Bourbon — Kentucky, USA
Reviewed
July 20, 2018 (edited August 24, 2018)
Prices in the scotch world are often a bit stupid but generally there is correlation (to a point) between price and enjoyment. In the bourban world things get seriously detached fast. The van winkle family is a good bunch, definitely a step above the rest of the over priced mob e.g. Colonel range. This one is one very smooth drop and almost tastes weaker neat than it's 10 year Old Van Winkle brother does after a liberal dose of water. The cherry is there but doesn't seem to bother me as much. The dram neat doesn't scream anything but subtlety really which I like. It's a more gentler more rustic experience like the Weller 12. Water doesn't really bring anything much else out and a few drops even seems to weaken it a bit to much. Quite amazing for the abv. I'm really quite enjoying this. I looked at the price of a bottle online... $1200USD! As I said massive detachment from reality. Unlike the 10 year I'd buy a bottle at a 10th of the price but that'd be the limit. Maple syrup, treacle, caramel, hint of cherry (perfect amount), hint of spice, plums and nutmeg. Very, very nice. Perfect balance. Started at a 4 but I'm thinking 4.25 to 4.5 up with the B lot.
1200.0
USD
per
Bottle
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@Scott_E. Cheers :-). It's a symptom of many markets. Something comes popular, people jump on the bandwaggon and either price rises or supply expands or both. For the aged Pappy it's like the Japanese situation I reckon. 15 years ago they never picked the demand and never laid down supply. That being said now they are in the position they are I don't think they'll be ramping up massively to meet similar demand in another 15 years. They are in a premium position why dilute. Honestly with whiskey you hit a certain level of greatness and personal preference and you don't get much higher in terms of rating, the rest is hype. Pappy 15 was great but I've had better whiskies for a fraction of the price. You definitely aren't missing out on a life changing experience. I wouldn't be able to pick it out in a line up. All I'd be able to do it guess it's predominately wheat based (excl the corn) and well aged bourbon and hazzard a guess from there based on experience :-)
Insane the cost. How much of the price is artificially kept by low supply? How much on bragging rights? I wonder in a blind tasting against similar profiled whiskies , how many would be able to discern the correct whiskey? That being said, I have never had a chance to try, so maybe there is Nirvana at the end of a Pappy sip? Sounds like you too @Soba45 see “the man behind the curtain” with a more experienced palate. Nice, straight-talk review.