The Van Winkle family has announced the 2026 release of its annual whiskey collection, featuring six bourbon and rye expressions aged between 10 and 23 years old. Produced by Old Rip Van Winkle Distillery and Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky, the limited release will reach US retailers, bars and restaurants via Sazerac’s distribution network.
The collection represents four generations of Van Winkle whiskey-making tradition.
This year’s lineup includes Old Rip Van Winkle Handmade Bourbon 10-Year-Old, Van Winkle Special Reserve Bourbon 12-Year-Old, Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve Bourbon 15-Year-Old, Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve Bourbon 20-Year-Old, Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve Bourbon 23-Year-Old, and Van Winkle Family Reserve Rye 13-Year-Old.
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READ THE STORYThe release is regarded as one of American whiskey’s most sought-after annual events.
“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 fourth generation, Old Rip Van Winkle Distillery.
“There are no shortcuts when you’re talking about whiskey that has spent this many years aging,” he added. “Our responsibility is to remain patient, protect the quality and carry forward the standards our family has valued for generations.”
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While the six expressions return each year, the brand said every release offers something that can never be replicated. Time and maturation leave a distinct imprint on each barrel, creating subtle variations from one release to the next.
The Van Winkle family and Buffalo Trace master distiller Harlen Wheatley select only the barrels that meet the standards set for each expression.
The family’s legacy dates back more than a century. It began in the late 1800s when Julian P. “Pappy” Van Winkle, Sr. started his career with Louisville’s W.L. Weller & Sons before helping establish the Stitzel-Weller Distillery, which opened in 1935.
In 2002, the Van Winkle family partnered with Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, where that legacy continues today.
Prices for the 2026 collection range from $169.99 (£126) to $499.99 (£371), with local fees and taxes applying.
The Old Rip Van Winkle Bourbon 10-Year-Old is priced at $169.99 (£126), while the Van Winkle Special Reserve Bourbon 12-Year-Old carries a suggested retail price of $199.99 (£148).
Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve Bourbon 15-Year-Old is priced at $299.99 (£223), the same as the Van Winkle Family Reserve Rye 13-Year-Old.
The Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve Bourbon 20-Year-Old is priced at $399.99 (£297), with the 23-Year-Old expression topping the range at $499.99 (£371).
According to the official notes from the brand, the 10-Year-Old opens with vanilla and caramel on the nose, complemented by pecan and seasoned oak, before a long, smoky finish.
The 23-Year-Old expresses ripe apple and cherry over caramel, developed oak and tobacco, with a subtle trace of chocolate.
“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,” said Julian P. Van Winkle III, president, Old Rip Van Winkle Distillery.
“For me, each bottle is a connection to the generations who came before us and to the patience, pride and traditions they passed down,” he continued. “Seeing that same appreciation carried forward by the people who seek out these whiskeys year after year is incredibly special to our family.”
The family reminded consumers that neither it nor Buffalo Trace Distillery controls prices set by individual retailers. It strongly recommended purchasing Van Winkle whiskeys only through licensed sellers.
Purchases made through unlicensed secondary markets may carry an increased risk of counterfeit products, fraud and alcohol scams.
Consumers who believe they have purchased a counterfeit bottle are encouraged to report the incident to the Better Business Bureau and their State Attorney General’s office.
More information is available at Old Rip Van Winkle.
