Ronald McDonald House Charities of Kentuckiana (RMHCK) has relaunched its annual Pappy Van Winkle raffle, offering a six-bottle bourbon and rye flight signed by Julian Van Winkle III, president of Old Rip Van Winkle Distillery. The raffle, which kicked off on March 17, 2026, in Louisville, Kentucky, has raised more than $2 million for the charity since 2019.
Tickets are priced at $100 each, with 100% of proceeds supporting families who stay at the Ronald McDonald House while their children receive pediatric medical care in Louisville. The organization will sell exactly 1,984 tickets to commemorate the year RMHCK first opened its doors.
Signup now to make sure you don't miss out on the latest whiskey news and deals.
By Signing up, you accept and agree to our Terms of Services and you acknowledge our Privacy Statement. The Whiskey Wash is protected by reCAPTCHA, and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Signup now to make sure you don't miss out on the latest whiskey news and deals.
By Signing up, you accept and agree to our Terms of Services and you acknowledge our Privacy Statement. The Whiskey Wash is protected by reCAPTCHA, and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
The flight includes a bottle each of Pappy Van Winkle 23-Year, 20-Year, and 15-Year, alongside Van Winkle Family Reserve 13-Year Rye, Van Winkle Special Reserve 12-Year, and Old Rip Van Winkle 10-Year — all from the 2024 release. Louisville-based bourbon expert Marc Abrams has personally authenticated each bottle.
“Having a complete collection by including the rye makes it truly a complete vertical,” said Abrams. “And the unbelievable value in having Julian Van Winkle signing each bottle sets this apart from other raffles.”
Van Winkle, a long-time RMHCK supporter, will also personally reach out to this year’s winner to offer congratulations.
“We intentionally sell 1,984 tickets to commemorate the year 1984, when Ronald McDonald House Charities of Kentuckiana first opened its doors to families,” said Hal Hedley, the organization’s CEO. “These six coveted bottles offered as a group go directly to support sick children and their families.”
Must Read Stories
“We’ve served more than 7,000 families since we started our Pappy raffles,” Hedley added. “We are grateful to the many bourbon enthusiasts around the country who look forward to this event and support our organization.”
Since 2019, the Pappy raffle has provided 17,641 nights of comfort and care to families traveling to Louisville for their children’s medical treatment. The raffle typically sells out each year.
The Pappy Van Winkle brand remains among the most sought-after American whiskeys, with secondary market prices for its aged expressions often reaching thousands of dollars per bottle. The drawing will take place at 11 a.m. EDT on April 23, 2026, and the winner does not need to be present. Tickets and further details are available at PappyRaffle.org.
Founded in 1984, RMHCK is a Louisville-based nonprofit that provides free services to families seeking pediatric healthcare. In 2025, the organization served 1,446 families for a total of 15,995 nights of lodging.
