$200,000 worth of rare and highly sought-after bourbons are set to be raffled to raise funds for the West End School in Louisville, Kentucky.
Brands such as Pappy Van Winkle, Maker’s Mark, Colonel E.H. Taylor Jr., and Michter’s will appear in the Ultimate Bourbon Raffle, with the bottles having been donated by distilleries, collectors, and industry executives.
West End School
Funds raised in the raffle will go to the West End School, a tuition-free all-boys school that supports children from underprivileged backgrounds in their education. Over 70% of West End School graduates continue their education in private schools on full scholarships.
Plans for a second, all-girls school, are also in the works. The school is scheduled to open in the fall of 2025.
Paul Perconit, West End School co-founder and Board Chair emeritus said: “It’s an ambitious undertaking but the school has the support to get this done. We hope to raise $2 million with this initiative, which will further support fundraising for the West End School.”
Tickets for the Ultimate Bourbon Raffle cost $100 each. They can be purchased here.
The raffle will be drawn on June 20th at 11 am (EDT) and there will be 22 lucky winners, one for each lot.
In Partnership With Fred Minnick
Respected bourbon critic and Wall Street Journal author, Fred Minnick, has partnered with the West End School and helped to curate the raffle, which is being billed as “ THE most prestigious & valuable raffle in the country.”
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Commenting on the effort, Minnick said: “I am a Louisvillian and love my community. The West End School is among the very best endeavors happening in our city and am so incredibly thankful the bourbon community has stepped up to raise funds.
“These bottles are not just unicorns, they represent some of the greatest releases of the past 100 years. The 1913 Early Times bottle tells the story of the time with pre-hybrid grains and water pure and straight from a stream. The Pappy set needs no introduction, and you won’t see bourbon geeks get more eager to rumble than over a King of Kentucky. Perhaps the best part, all of this was donated by members of our community. From Watch Hill Proper to bourbon collector Jonah Goodman, they all represent the best of Louisville, just like the West End School students.”
Bourbon Lots On Offer In The Ultimate Bourbon Raffle
According to the press release, the 22 lots on offer are:
- “Brown-Forman 150th Anniversary Bottle – This extremely limited bottle celebrating the 150th anniversary of Brown-Forman is a 150-month old-expression that was selected from just six barrels. One of the most valuable bottles ever put out by the distillery. Valued at $8,000
- 2023 Michter’s 25 Year Old Bourbon – The oldest bottling from one of America’s most admired distilleries. Extremely limited production that is only released on select years. Valued at $9,000
- Maker’s Mark Private Select Barrel – You and seven friends can craft your own Private Select Barrel as you enjoy all of the bottles in the barrel as well. Partake in an exclusive, private tour at one of the greatest barrel experiences in the industry. Valued at $20,000
- Heaven Hill Private Tour & Tasting Experience – Private tour for 4 conducted by Heaven Hill Master Distiller Conor O’Driscoll, ending with a special keepsake bottle.
- “You Do Bourbon” experience for four guests; each guest is to receive one of each product (Larceny BP, Elijah Craig BP, and Bernheim BP)
- Heaven Hill Heritage Collection
- Old Fitz BIB Decanter Series VVS 2018 14YO
- Heaven Hill Heritage Collection 18YO Bourbon
- Parker’s Heritage Collection 5th Edition 10YO Bourbon Finished in Cognac Barrels Autographed by Parker Beam
- Pappy 5-bottle Vertical Signed by Julian P. Van Winkle III – A full bourbon vertical of the most sought-after bourbon in the world, each bottle signed by Julian Van Winkle III exclusively for this raffle. Valued at $18,000
- Old Rip Van Winkle Van Winkle “Lot B”
- Pappy Van Winkle 15 Year Old
- Pappy Van Winkle 20 Year Old
- Pappy Van Winkle 23 Year Old
- 1913 Early Times Bottled In Bond Straight Whiskey, 1 Quart – A rare unicorn. A Pre-Prohibition bottle of Early Times, with great clarity and fill level. Valued at $20,000
- 2023 King of Kentucky 16 Year Old -The 2023 16-year-old expression of Brown Forman’s most exclusive annual release.
- Four Gate Collection Signed – A 5-bottle vertical of Four Gates’ Kelvin Collaboration, signed by Master Blender Bill Straub
- Four Gate “The Kelvin Collaboration I”
- Four Gate “The Kelvin Collaboration II”
- Four Gate “The Kelvin Collaboration III”
- Four Gate “The Kelvin Collaboration IIII”
- Four Gate “The Kelvin Collaboration V”
- Watch Hill Proper Barrels Pick Lot – 16 different bottles representing Watch Hill Proper’s amazing Barrel Pick Program.
- NULU Rye
- NULU Bourbon
- Knob Creek Bourbons (Three Different Barrels)
- Jack Daniel’s Barrel Proof
- Jefferson’s Ocean Aged at Sea
- Peerless Bourbon
- Peerless Rye
- Yellowstone
- Rebel Cask Strength
- Elijah Craig Barrel Strength
- Starlight Cigar Batch
- Russell’s Reserve
- Ezra Brooks Cask Strength
- Michter’s 8 Bottle Vertical Signed – A complete vertical of Michter’s Core 4, Barrel Strength Bourbon and Rye, and the 10-Year-Old Bourbon and Rye. Signed by Master Distiller Dan McKee and Master of Maturation Andrea Wilson
- 2023 Michter’s 10 Year Old Bourbon
- 2019 Michter’s 10 Year Old Rye
- 2019 Michter’s Barrel Strength Bourbon
- Michter’s Barrel Strength Rye
- Michter’s US1 Small Batch Bourbon
- Michter’s US1 Sour Mash Whiskey
- Michter’s US1 Small Batch Whiskey
- Michter’s US1 Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey
- 15 Stars 9 Bottle Vertical – A full 9-bottle vertical including the rare Platinum and Triple Cask Bottles, a number of bottles are from the first batch of a series.
- Old Forester Birthday Bourbon & Distillery Series – A bottle of the acclaimed Birthday Bourbon and a full vertical of the Distiller’s series including the newly released 1924 10-Year-Old.
- 2023 Birthday Bourbon
- Old Forester 1870 Original Batch Whisky
- Old Forester 1897 Bottled In Bond Whisky
- Old Forester 1920 Old Fine Whisky
- Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style Whisky
- Old Forester 1924 10 Year Old Whisky
- W.L. Weller Bourbon 6 Bottle Vertical – A complete 6-bottle release of the most popular wheated bourbon collection, including Craft Your Perfect Bourbon (CYPB) and Single Barrel
- Berghoff 10 Year Old Bourbon bottled in 1984. Distilled at Stitzel-Weller in 1974.
- 2022 William Larue Weller – The Highlight of the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection
- Daniel Weller (Emmer Wheat Recipe) – A Very Limited Release of the most sought-after Weller.
- Colonel EH Taylor 4 Bottle Collection – The 4 annual release EH Taylor including the hard-to-find Barrel Proof.
- Colonel EH Taylor 4 Grain – The 2017 Limited Release of a 12-Year-Old with a great balance of Bourbon’s 4 most popular grains
- Colonel EH Taylor 18 Year Marriage – The 2020 Limited Release is a blend of the Distillery’s two bourbon mashbills and its wheated bourbon – all at 18 years old.
- Colonel EH Taylor Amaranth – The “Grain of The Gods,” first cultivated by the Aztecs, produced one of the most remarkable EH Taylor exclusive releases.
- 2023 Four Roses Small Batch “135” Limited Edition – Four Roses’ most anticipated annual release, a blend of 12, 14, 16 and 25-Year-Old whiskeys”
Other charitable initiatives in the whiskey industry recently include the ‘Bourbon Strong’ Raffle in support of Habitat for Humanity, and an auction celebrating women in whisky held by Whisky Auctioneer.
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