My Bourbon Thoughts: Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve 15 Year Review

Ross
Update: January 1, 2023

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A hands-on review of Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve 15. The good, the bad, and the delicious.

THE OFFICIAL REVIEW

The Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve 15 Year is the younger brother of the Pappy 20 Year. Like its other family members, this is a wheated recipe. The 15 Year Pappy is is bottled at 107 proof.

Today this bourbon is distilled by Buffalo Trace with the exact same recipe and process as the Stitzel-Weller version but, unlike the 20 and 23 Year versions, the 15 Year has no Stitzel-Weller juice. Not to worry. They have taken good care of the product and produced a great bourbon.

The nose is fantastic with sweet, vanilla notes and a hint of fruit. The taste is a nice balance of wood and carmel sweetness. It is thick and coats your entire mouth. The finish is elegant and smooth with sweet spices.

Fantastic bourbons are harder and harder to find and this is no exception so, if you find a bottle, scoop it up and enjoy. Definitely not a cheap bourbon – save this one for a special occasion.

WHERE TO BUY IT

Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve 15 Year