Pappy Van Winkle's Family Reserve 15 year old. . . .

Joined Sep 2003
9K Posts | 0+
Puerto Rico/NYC
Having received a tip from our own Hollow Point, Master Whiskey 3rd Level, Whiskey Disciple 12th Dan, about an impending change in the 15 year old bourbon with the Van Winkle label over the summer, I stocked up on the short, fat bottle.

The 15 year old bourbon under the name Old Rip Van Winkle 15 year old Handmade Bourbon, at 107 proof, as previously reviewed, is a blast of creamy vanilla, underscored and followed by very sharp oak, a delicious thick bodied bourbon. Over this past weekend, after purchasing a bottle of the new Pappy Van Winkle's Family Reserve 15 year old bourbon, also 107 proof, I was prompted to do back to back taste tests. This product comes in a tall, elegant bottle, certain more stylish than it's squat cousin with the screw cap.

Because of certain day to day differences that I have noted in my taste buds, I have learned to do comparisons on the same day, each after a meal, and not too far apart from each other, in clock time. I do not believe in doing side by side taste tests. Then again, was this just a rebottling and slight renaming of the same product, since the other label has a more expensive reputation?

Ohhhhhhh, trying to stay fair and balanced, indeed!!! Well, it helped to have brand new bottles of each on hand. After two back to back taste tests over the weekend, and a third tasting of the new Pappy's 15 this afternoon, I have decided that . . .

It is definitely a different bourbon. Is it a different product? What do I mean? Am I being blond again? Well indeed, my sensei, Master Whiskey 3rd Level Hollow Point, whose points are never hollow, has clued me in toooooo, shall we say, the vagaries of the bourbon industry? Yes, and leave it at that, because it makes my head hurt.

But Pappy Van Winkle's own label claims it is a younger expression of their 20 year old bourbon, and after spending the past week and a half doing four separate tastings of the new 20 year old, I heartily agree. The flavor profile of the new Pappy's 15 is extremely close to the new 20 year old. Although I must be honest and tell you that there are similarities to it's cousin, Old Rip 15.

What the new Pappy Van Winkle's Family Reserve 15 year old bourbon is like is that it is a lighter bodied whiskey than it's cousin Old Rip, and clearly less rustic, more refined, and although the same 107 proof, much gentler. It also leads off with vanilla, backed by oak, sweet, gentler oak than it's cousin Old Rip, and like it's 20 year old brother, also quite reminiscent of heavy pear syrup. At times there are reminders of thick, unfiltered wildflower honey.

This fine bourbon whiskey costs the same as it's cousin, Old Rip Van Winkle 15 year old, and if you can get a bottle of each, by all means do so, because they're both worth it.

There is no doubt that this new 15 year old bourbon under the Pappy Van Winkle name has caused an unexpected shakeup in my Top 25, so check for the publication of that new list soon, . . .

like tonight. :D

Here's a hint. I had to pull out the Knob Creek to do a back to back taste test with the new Pappy's 15. That's rarified air in this household.
 
Looking forward to trying this one myself. I haven't yet as I was concentrating a little effort on making sure I had a couple of old style bottles.