Pappy Van Winkle Bourbon hits Birmingham shelves November 13

Nov. 13 – Today marks the day that whiskey connoisseurs around Alabama have been waiting for. Beginning at 9 a.m, Pappy Van Winkle Bourbon and the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection will officially be hitting ABC store shelves. But fans of the spirits have to act quick, because it will only be available for one day at select locations. 

Pappy Van Winkle, officially known as Old Rip Van Winkle Bourbon, is a very rare, limited-edition bourbon made by the Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfurt, Kentucky. Each year, the distillery produces only 7,500 cases of the spirit with bottles sent to only a select number of vendors.

This year, even less bottles will be produced. According to a Buffalo Trace Distillery news release, production is down to about half of what it was last year due to evaporation.

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In late October, the Buffalo Trace Distillery shipped two whiskey lines to the Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Control Board. The product was then distributed to just eight stores around Alabama – two of the stores are located in the Birmingham area. Based on these numbers, this means less than 50 bottles of Pappy Van Winkle will be available throughout the entire state. For Pappy fans, this is unfortunate news.

Due to scarcity, each retailer has a different way of promoting the product to consumers. Some use a lottery system or waiting list, while others announce a sell date on a first-come first-serve basis. Birmingham locations that will have the two collections in stock are opting for the latter.

This 2017 Pappy release includes 10-, 15- and 23-year whiskeys. Depending on age year, bottles can run near $300. To purchase, a valid Alabama ID is required. There is also a limit of one bottle from either of the two collections.

Where can Birmingham locals get their bottle?

• 323 Galleria Circle – Hoover
• 354 Hollywood Blvd. – Birmingham

It will also be available at select ABC stores in Huntsville, Fairhope, Mobile, Montgomery, Opelika and Tuscaloosa.