Pappy Van Winkle 10 Year Old Special Reserve 53.5% 750ml

Often known simply as Pappy 10, the Old Rip Van Winkle 10 Year Old Handmade Bourbon is the entry point into the Van Winkle range and one of the most sought-after wheated bourbons released each year. Distilled and aged at Buffalo Trace under the guidance of the Van Winkle family, the 10 Year sees a full decade in new charred oak before bottling at cask-strong intensity.

The colour is a warm honey-amber. The nose is rich and inviting, leading with sweet caramel, vanilla custard, dried cherries and a backbone of toasted oak, along with seasoned wood and ground cinnamon. The palate is full and plush, layered with honey, cherry, dried apple and marshmallow, lifted by warming cinnamon, nutmeg and clove before resolving into roasted oak. The finish is long and warming, echoing caramel and vanilla with a lingering touch of baking spice.

Although bottled with more punch than its older siblings, the wheat-led mash bill keeps the heat in check and lets the layered sweetness shine. A genuine introduction to the Van Winkle style.