A barrel of Pappy Van Winkle 15-Year-Old is available for the first time at auction from parent company Sazerac, with proceeds going to aid for the California wildfires.
The company says this marks the first time such a barrel has been sold at public auction. Pappy Van Winkle has long been among the most expensive spirit brands in the world and a prized collectible among bourbon enthusiasts. In 2022, a bottle of 23-Year-Old Pappy sold for a record $52,500 at auction.
Bottles of 15-Year-Old Pappy from 2023 are currently available for less than $2,000 at some online retailers.
A typical barrel of bourbon yields around 125 bottles, according to Sazerac.
The proceeds of the sale will be split between two charities, World Central Kitchen, which is providing meals to those in need, and Another Round Another Rally, which is raising funds for hospitality workers impacted by the disaster.
“The barrel was specially selected from the heart of Buffalo Trace Distillery's aging warehouses,” the company says.
Will Stern is a reporter and editor for cllct.