Sazerac Puts Up a Barrel of Pappy Van Winkle 15, Eagle Rare 25 and Other Whiskey Gems in Auction to Aid LA Fire Victims

Sazerac is putting up a collection of Pappy Van Winkle and for the first time a barrel of Pappy Van Winkle 15 up for auction to benefit California Wildfire victims. (Photo: Sazerac)

Sazerac shared on Tuesday that the brand was hosting a fundraiser to support the victims of the wildfires in California, and the proceeds would be donated to World Central Kitchen (WCK) and Another Round Another Rally. The whiskey brand is offering the first-ever opportunity for buyers to bid on a single barrel of Pappy Van Winkle 15 Year Old since Sazerac began its relationship with the Van Winkles in the early 2000s.

“Our hearts break for those who have been impacted by the devastating wildfires that have swept across California this year,” said President and CEO of Sazerac Jake Wenz in a statement. “The fires have caused immense destruction, and the toll on the Los Angeles community is profound. Through this program, we hope, humbly, to offer a small bit of aid to World Central Kitchen and Another Round Another Rally as they continue their much-needed support to the California community during a difficult time.”

The whiskey brand shared that proceeds from the single barrel would be split between World Central Kitchen and Another Round Another Rally. Sazerac is additionally putting up a sweepstakes offering a full bottle set of the Pappy Van Winkle Bourbon Collection, including six bourbons: Old Rip Van Winkle 10 Year, Pappy Van Winkle 12 Year, Pappy Van Winkle Family Reserve Rye 13 Yera, Pappy Van Winkle 15 Year, Pappy Van Winkle 20 Year and Pappy Van Winkle 23 Year. Funds raised by this collection will be donated to World Central Kitchen.

The second sweepstakes Sazerac is offering involves onee bottle of Buffalo Trace’s Eagle Rare 25. This is the oldest Eagle Rare released, and it dropped as part of Buffalo Trace’s 25-Year-Old Eagle Rare, which dropped in October 2023.

The Sazerac California Wildfire Relief Fundraiser starts on Tuesday, Feb. 11, at noon E.S.T. Those interested in entering and making donations can visit the brand’s website here. All entries must be submitted by 11:59 PM E.S.T. on Sunday, February 23.

The Los Angeles Fires broke out on Jan 7, in the Pacific Palisades and the Eaton Canyon communities in Altadena. Over 50,000 acres have burned, and at least 28 people have perished in both blazes.

Fortunately, local restaurants have been providing aid to the community, including the wine bar institution, Bacari.  The owner of Bacari, Danny Kronfi, chose to provide meals to first responders indefinitely as his house survived the blaze in Altadena.

“We turned on the news,” Kronfi said. “Our street is on the news and my neighbor’s house was on fire. The fire department is there, and a lot of neighbors lost their homes, and they’re good friends of ours, and their kids are good friends of my kids. So thank God for those firefighters., We were finally able to get back to our house today, and you can see the fire burned right up to our house. I can’t say enough of those guys.”

Pouring With Heart, a Los Angeles hospitality institution behind some of Los Angeles’ best bars, including the whiskey institution Seven Grand, is collaborating with Another Round Another Rally to provide aid to hospitality workers whose lives were negatively impacted by the blazes.

Sazerac shared that Another Round Another Rally has given out over $100,000 in assistance to hospitality workers affected by the fires. World Central Kitchen has served over 600,000 meals to those affected by the fires as well.

“When disaster strikes, WCK’s Relief Team mobilizes with the urgency of now to start cooking and serving meals to people in need,” the brand explained in a statement. “By partnering with organizations on the ground and activating a network of local restaurants, food trucks and emergency kitchens, WCK serves comforting meals to survivors of disasters quickly and effectively. To support regional economies, WCK prioritizes purchasing local ingredients to cook with or distribute directly to families in need. We know that good food provides not only nourishment, but also comfort and hope, especially in times of crisis.”