One of the great white whales in the world of whiskey collections is back for another year. Old Rip Van Winkle Distillery and Buffalo Trace Distiller announced this week the release of the 2026 Van Winkle Whiskey Collection.
“Every year, we look forward to the opportunity to share these whiskeys with people who have followed our family’s story and appreciate the time and care behind each bottle,” said Preston Van Winkle, Vice-President and 4th Generation, Old Rip Van Winkle Distillery. “There are no shortcuts when you’re talking about whiskey that has spent this many years aging. Our responsibility is to remain patient, protect the quality and carry forward the standards our family has valued for generations.”
2026 Van Winkle Whiskey Collection
The suggested retail prices for the 2026 collection are as follows (local fees/taxes apply):
· Old Rip Van Winkle Bourbon 10-Year-Old – $169.99
Vanilla and caramel unfold on the nose, complemented by rich pecan and seasoned oak. The palate is beautifully smooth and mellow, balancing robust wheat and ripe cherry against a deepening presence of oak. The finish is long and smoky, with lingering fruit and warm spice giving way to refined oak tannins.
· Van Winkle Special Reserve Bourbon 12-Year-Old – $199.99
Dried mango and spiced peach lend an elegant fruit character, with cocoa adding subtle depth. Honey unfolds across the palate alongside seasoned oak and tobacco, creating a rich interplay of sweetness and structure. The finish is beautifully balanced and dry, leaving a lingering trace of warmth.
· Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve Bourbon 15-Year-Old – $299.99
Rich and commanding, this 15-year-old bourbon balances the sweetness of caramel corn and vanilla with layers of leather, seasoned oak and complex fruit. Its depth builds across the palate before resolving into an exceptionally smooth finish, where warm spice meets lingering oak tannins.
· Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve Bourbon 20-Year-Old– $399.99
Two decades of maturation reveal themselves in a whiskey of exceptional depth, elegance, and presence. Intense yet remarkably smooth, the palate opens with vibrant citrus zest before unfolding into delicate sherry notes, dried fruit and vanilla, each layer emerging with measured complexity and beautifully composed balance. The finish is extraordinarily long and elegant, lingering with a richness and refinement that speaks to the patience behind every bottle.
· Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve Bourbon 23-Year-Old – $499.99
Twenty-three years of patience are expressed in remarkable depth, with ripe apple and cherry bringing brightness to layers of caramel, deeply developed oak and tobacco, all underscored by a subtle trace of chocolate. The palate is commanding and beautifully structured, allowing the pronounced wood character to take center stage while an elegant caramel sweetness provides richness and balance. Long after the sip, that sweetness endures with an exceptionally lingering finish defined by mature oak, rich caramel and unmistakable refinement.
· Van Winkle Family Reserve Rye 13-Year-Old – $299.99.
An elegant, softly spiced nose reveals chestnut, vanilla and fruit, unfolding with understated warmth. Cocoa and vanilla lend richness to the palate, accented by vibrant spice and a refined touch of white pepper. The finish is exceptionally long and complex, as caramel and lingering spice settle into beautifully dry oak.
Source: Old Rip Van Winkle Distillery
“I’ve had the privilege of watching this collection become something that means a great deal not only to our family, but to people around the world. For me, each bottle is a connection to the generations who came before us and to the patience, pride and traditions they passed down. Seeing that same appreciation carried forward by the people who seek out these whiskeys year after year is incredibly special to our family.”
About Old Rip Van Winkle Distillery
The Old Rip Van Winkle Distillery has a four-generation history. The Van Winkle family’s involvement in the bourbon industry began in the late 1800s with Julian P. “Pappy” Van Winkle, Sr. He was a traveling salesman for the W.L. Weller and Sons wholesale house in Louisville. Pappy and a friend and fellow Weller salesman Alex Farnsley eventually bought the wholesale house and also partnered with Mr. A. Ph. Stitzel on the purchase of Mr. Stitzel’s distillery. The three of them merged the two companies and became the Stitzel-Weller Distillery after Prohibition. In May of 1935 at the age of 61, Pappy opened the newly completed Stitzel-Weller Distillery in South Louisville. Its prominent brands were W.L. Weller, Old Fitzgerald, Rebel Yell, and Cabin Still. Pappy had a heavy influence on the operations there until his death at the age of 91. His son, Julian, Jr. took over operations until he was forced by stockholders to sell the distillery in 1972. The rights to all of their brands were sold to Norton Simon, Inc. Later, United Distillers, who eventually ended up with the Stitzel-Weller Distillery, sold off all of the original labels around 1999. After selling the distillery, Julian Jr. resurrected a pre-Prohibition label, the only one to which the Van Winkles kept the rights, called Old Rip Van Winkle. He used whiskey stocks from the old distillery to supply his brand. Julian Jr.’s son, Julian, III took over in 1981 when Julian, Jr. passed away. Julian III has continued with the Van Winkle tradition of producing high-quality wheated bourbon. His son, Preston, joined the company in 2001 and the Van Winkles look to continue that tradition for generations to come. In 2002 the Van Winkles entered into a joint venture with Buffalo Trace Distillery in Franklin County, Frankfort, Ky, joining the Van Winkle and Weller Bourbons again in one production house. It was a natural tie since the wheated mash bill used in the Weller Bourbons was already being produced at Buffalo Trace. All of the Van Winkle’s whiskey production now takes place at Buffalo Trace Distillery under the same strict guidelines the family has always followed. For more information on the Van Winkle family of bourbon please visit www.oldripvanwinkle.com. (From the distillery)
About Buffalo Trace Distillery
Buffalo Trace Distillery is an American family-owned company based in Frankfort, Kentucky. The Distillery's rich tradition dates back to 1775 and includes such legends as E.H. Taylor, Jr., George T. Stagg, Albert B. Blanton, Orville Schupp, and Elmer T. Lee. Buffalo Trace Distillery is a fully operational Distillery producing bourbon, rye and vodka on site and is a National Historic Landmark as well as listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Distillery has won 40 distillery titles since 2000 from such notable publications as Whisky Magazine, Whisky Advocate Magazine and Wine Enthusiast Magazine. Its George T. Stagg was named World Whiskey of the Year for 2022 and its Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Rye was named 2nd Finest Whiskey in the World for 2022. Buffalo Trace Distillery has also garnered more than 1,000 awards for its wide range of premium whiskies. Buffalo Trace Distillery also has a deep commitment to supporting charitable initiatives. Nonprofit organizations interested in learning more about the Distillery’s efforts are encouraged to register their charity here. To learn more about Buffalo Trace Distillery, visit www.buffalotracedistillery.com.
