Virginia ABC announces Pappy Van Winkle lotteries

On Wednesday, the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority announced that several highly prized Pappy Van Winkle whiskey products will be entered into an online lottery in March and April.

The 23-year-old bourbon whiskey costs $300 per bottle, but in the online marketplace, a bottle of 25-year-old Old Rip Van Winkle bourbon was on sale for $37,799 this week.

Entrants into the lottery will vie for the opportunity to purchase Pappy Van Winkle Family Reserve 23 Year, 20 Year and 15 Year whiskeys; Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year and Old Rip Van Winkle 10 Year bourbons; as well as Old Rip Van Winkle 13 Year Rye, a new offering for the Virginia ABC. Distilled and bottled in Kentucky’s Buffalo Trace Distillery, the highly desired 23-year Family Reserve bourbon is extremely difficult to buy and is owned by the Sazerac Co., which acquired the former family-owned business in 2002. Annual production ranges between 6,000 and 8,000 bottles.

Each online lottery entry form will be available for five days. Winners will be selected at random in a drawing. Lottery entrants must either be individuals who are 21 and older, or a licensed mixed-beverage establishment. At the time of purchase, winners must present a valid Virginia photo ID. The name and address on the photo ID must both match the name and address on the winner’s entry.

Since licensee sales typically make up 18% of the Virginia ABC’s business, a proportional number of bottles is set aside for licensees. Separate drawings will be held for retail customers and licensee customers.

The dates for each online lottery, number of bottles available and product prices are as follows:

• March 18-22:
o Pappy Van Winkle Family Reserve 23 Year ($299.99) – three bottles available (two retail, one licensee)
o Pappy Van Winkle Family Reserve 20 Year ($199.99) – 126 bottles available (101 retail, 25 licensee)
o Pappy Van Winkle Family Reserve 15 Year ($119.99) – 137 bottles available (113 retail, 24 licensee)

• April 7-11:
o Old Rip Van Winkle 13 Year Rye ($119.99) – 300 bottles available (240 retail, 60 licensee)
o Van Winkle Special Reserve Bourbon 12 Year ($79.99) – 1,449 bottles available (1,159 retail, 290 licensee)
o Old Rip Van Winkle 10 Year ($69.99) – 462 bottles available (370 retail, 92 licensee)

All lottery entries must include the store number and address where the bottle should be delivered for customer purchase and pick up. Lottery entrants are encouraged to determine this location before submitting their entry. Lottery information is available here.

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