Following the devastating losses caused by the tornadoes that tore through the Midwest and South Buffalo Trace Distillery and its 2,300 team mercifully emerged unscathed, although some of its team members experienced tragedy within their extended families.
In order to help raise funds, Buffalo Trace and the Van Winkle family are partnering with Menish Productions on two rare whiskey flights, available online from December 20 at 9am, through to December 23 at 7pm.
Available for bidding are a complete flight of Pappy Van Winkle and a complete flight of Buffalo Trace’s Antique Collection, which includes the 2020 George T. Stagg. All of the whiskeys included are very collectable, and for the first time in its history, the distillery is donating a bottle of each expression from both of the collections to this charitable cause.
“The toll these tornadoes and severe weather took on our fellow Kentuckians and others in the Midwest and South is shocking,” said Mark Brown, chief executive officer, Buffalo Trace Distillery. “We hope our Bourbon community, who we know can be very generous, really shows its support and we’re able to raise an unheralded amount of funds for Western Kentucky disaster relief.”
The auction features two packages, a complete Van Winkle collection which includes Old Rip Van Winkle 10 Years Old, Van Winkle 12 Years Old “Lot B,” Van Winkle Family Reserve Rye, Pappy Van Winkle 15 Years Old, Pappy Van Winkle 20 Years Old and Pappy Van Winkle 23 Years Old. The auction winners will have the option to have the set autographed by Julian and Preston Van Winkle.
The second whiskey package, a complete set of Buffalo Trace’s Antique Collection, includes William Larue Weller, Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Rye, Eagle Rare 17 Years Old, Sazerac Rye 18 Years Old and a 2020 George. T. Stagg (130.4 proof). The auction winners will have the option to have the set autographed by master distiller Harlen Wheatley and Buffalo Trace president and chief executive officer Mark Brown.
Details on the auction and how to bid can be found here - all proceeds from the auction will go to disaster relief in Western Kentucky.