Review #: 322
Description: Pappy Van Winkle 15 Year (2020)
Spirit: Bourbon
Background: Not much intro needed from the famed Pappy line. Previously from the legendary Stizel-Weller distillery, Buffalo Trace continues the wheated bourbon line year releasing several of different ages. This one is 15 years old and considered by many to be the sweet spot for balance with the oak. This comes from the 2020 release and is bottled at 107 proof.
Distillery – Buffalo Trace
Bottler – Buffalo Trace
Brand – Pappy Van Winkle
Selection – N/A
ABV – 53.5%
Age – 15 Years
Nose – Sweet and syrupy, stewed cherries, chocolate, cinnamon buns, fresh sourdough bread, black pepper, a perfect balance of oak. Really an amazing nose on this.
Taste – Texture follows the nose as it is rich and thick, cherries are a bit drier, vanilla, maple, caramel. It’s really not that sweet, but not overly dry. A nice balance
Finish – Much more peppery, dry leather, oak. A touch hot for the proof. Cooling menthol lingers pretty long.
Score: 6
Would I buy a bottle? Yes, at retail, and mostly to share with others
Thoughts: This is certainly a good bourbon. Frankly, the nose is near perfect but then the oak comes in and while it balances the sweetness, the finish definitely gets a bit dry and hot. I can see why people think the older bottlings are too much oak. I would absolutely get a bottle at retail cost, but mostly just to share with others who might not have had it before and get to share that experience of trying such a famed bottling.