150 Years Young: Van Winkle Family Celebrates Bourbon Legend’s Early Birthday With Special Tribute

The Van Winkle family celebrated Julian “Pappy” Van Winkle’s 150th Birthday. (Photo: Buffalo Trace)

WDRB reported on Wednesday that the Van Winkle family celebrated what would have been the 150th birthday of the family’s patriarch, Julian P. “Pappy” Van Winkle. The bourbon that hosts his namesake, Pappy Van Winkle, is one of the most coveted bourbons out there today.

Though Pappy’s official birthday is March 22, the family chose to celebrate it a couple of days early. This birthday is a particularly special one because it coincides with the 150th Kentucky Derby.

The Van Winkle family raised their glasses to Pappy with a toast of the 20-year Pappy Van Winkle Family Reserve, according to WDRB. The toast was meant to celebrate both Pappy’s birthday and the Kentucky Derby.

Pappy Van Winkle is owned by Buffalo Trace, and according to the brand his name is “synonymous with quality in the bourbon industry.” He is known for the famous mantra:

“We make fine bourbon at a profit if we can, at a loss if we must, but always fine bourbon.”

More About Julian P. “Pappy” Van Winkle

Pappy worked as a traveling salesman in 1893 for W.L. Weller and Sons, according to Buffalo Trace. Ever the businessman, Pappy and a coworker named Alex Farnsley merged the brand with A. Ph. Stitzel Distillery, forming the Stitzel-Weller Distillery which opened — coincidentally — on Derby Day in 1935.

Pappy Van Winkle was very involved in the day-to-day operations of the distillery until he died in 1965. He was 91 years old.

Pappy’s son, Julian Jr. brought a pre-Prohibition label called Rip Van Winkle back to life, his son Julian III continues to oversee operations for the Van Winkle line according to Buffalo Trace.

Bottles of Pappy Van Winkle are some of the most expensive on the market today, and many fetch eye-watering prices. For a complete breakdown of the MSRP versus what these bourbons cost on the secondary market, you can read our article “How Much Does a Bottle of Pappy Van Winkle Cost.”

Bottles of Pappy Van Winkle have captivated collectors, bourbon aficionados and even celebrities far and wide. Fans range from the likes of Anthony Bourdain, Chef David Chang — according to Wine Enthusiast — and even the Pope.

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