Old Rip Van Winkle distillery

Introduction to Old Rip Van Winkle

A distillery with passion for craftsmanship

Old Rip Van Winkle is an iconic American bourbon distillery that has achieved almost mythical status among whiskey enthusiasts worldwide. Located in Kentucky, the heart of bourbon country, this family-owned operation has transcended ordinary bourbon production to become a true legend in the spirits world.

The Van Winkle bourbons are revered for their exceptional quality, rarity, and the family’s unwavering commitment to traditional production methods that harken back to bourbon’s golden age.

Why we have a soft spot for Old Rip Van Winkle

At Vault of Spirits, we cherish distilleries that prioritize quality over quantity, and Old Rip Van Winkle exemplifies this philosophy perfectly. Their steadfast dedication to the family’s original wheated bourbon recipe, extended aging periods, and limited production runs creates whiskeys of remarkable depth and character.

What truly sets the Van Winkle bourbons apart is their patient maturation process, allowing the whiskey to develop complex flavors that simply cannot be rushed or replicated.

The history behind Old Rip Van Winkle

Origin and development

The Van Winkle bourbon legacy began with Julian “Pappy” Van Winkle Sr., who started working at W.L. Weller & Sons distillery in the late 1800s before eventually acquiring the Stitzel Distillery in 1935, forming the Stitzel-Weller Distillery. Their flagship bourbon was wheated—using wheat instead of rye as the secondary grain—creating a smoother, more approachable spirit.

After Pappy’s death in 1965, the distillery was sold in 1972, but his son Julian Jr. kept the family legacy alive by salvaging some of the original bourbon stock and establishing the Old Rip Van Winkle brand, named after the Washington Irving character who fell asleep for 20 years—a fitting nod to bourbon’s long aging process.

The people behind the legend

Today, the Van Winkle legacy continues under the stewardship of Julian Van Winkle III (Pappy’s grandson) and his son Preston, who maintain the family’s unwavering commitment to excellence. Since 2002, they’ve partnered with Buffalo Trace Distillery to produce their bourbons using the original family recipe.

Their dedication to quality over quantity, combined with their insistence on extended aging periods, has helped elevate the Van Winkle portfolio to its current cult status among collectors and connoisseurs alike.

The craft and production

From raw material to finished product

Van Winkle bourbons are crafted using a distinctive wheated mash bill—consisting of corn, wheat, and malted barley—rather than the more common corn, rye, and malted barley combination. This substitution of wheat for rye creates the signature smooth, soft character that has become synonymous with the Van Winkle name.

The distillation process follows traditional methods, with attention to detail at every stage. While the whiskey is now produced at Buffalo Trace Distillery, it strictly adheres to the original Van Winkle family recipe and quality standards.

Maturation and aging

Perhaps the most crucial element in creating Van Winkle’s exceptional bourbons is time. The whiskeys are aged significantly longer than industry standards—ranging from 10 to 23 years—in deeply charred oak barrels stored in the “sweet spots” of traditional wooden warehouses.

This extended maturation allows for extraordinary development of flavor while maintaining remarkable balance. The angel’s share takes a significant toll over such lengthy aging periods, which contributes to both the rarity and the concentrated flavors of these sought-after bourbons.

Selected products from Old Rip Van Winkle

Old Rip Van Winkle 10 Year – An introduction to the house style

This 10-year-old bourbon serves as the entry point to the Van Winkle collection, though it remains elusive in its own right. Bottled at 107 proof, it delivers notes of caramel, honey, and toasted oak with a velvety mouthfeel and well-balanced sweetness that exemplifies the wheated bourbon style.

Despite being the youngest offering in the lineup, it showcases the family’s commitment to quality and extended aging, making it a cherished bottle among both newcomers and established enthusiasts.

Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve 20 Year – An experience for connoisseurs

Often considered the crown jewel of American whiskey, the 20-year expression represents bourbon at its finest. This exceptionally mature bourbon delivers a symphony of complex flavors—dark chocolate, dried fruits, vanilla custard, and oak spices—with an unmatched silky texture and extraordinary length on the finish.

Each sip reveals new layers of complexity, rewarding contemplative enjoyment and demonstrating why this expression has become one of the most coveted spirits in the world.

Visiting the distillery

Tours and tastings

While Old Rip Van Winkle doesn’t operate its own visitor center, Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky—where Van Winkle bourbons are currently produced—offers excellent tours that provide insight into the bourbon-making process.

However, visitors should note that tasting Van Winkle products is not typically included in standard tours due to their limited availability. The chance to sample these rare bourbons remains as elusive as acquiring the bottles themselves.

Frequently asked questions

What is Old Rip Van Winkle?

Old Rip Van Winkle is a prestigious bourbon brand produced by the Van Winkle family in partnership with Buffalo Trace Distillery. The brand is known for producing exceptionally aged wheated bourbons that are among the most sought-after whiskeys in the world, celebrated for their smoothness, complexity, and balanced flavor profiles.

Where is Old Rip Van Winkle located?

While the Van Winkle family maintains ownership of the brand, their bourbons are currently distilled and aged at Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky. This partnership began in 2002, ensuring the continuation of the family’s traditional bourbon-making methods.

What characterizes Old Rip Van Winkle?

Old Rip Van Winkle is characterized by its wheated bourbon recipe (using wheat instead of rye as the secondary grain), exceptionally long aging periods (10-23 years), limited production quantities, and remarkable smoothness combined with complex flavor development. The brand is also known for its incredible rarity and the resulting cult-like following among bourbon enthusiasts.

Where can I buy bourbon from Old Rip Van Winkle?

You can find selected bottles from the Van Winkle portfolio at Vault of Spirits when available. We occasionally source these highly coveted expressions, though due to their extreme rarity and allocation system, availability is limited. When these treasured bottles do become available, we ensure they find their way to true bourbon enthusiasts.