Pappy Van Winkle 23 Year Old Bourbon Whiskey 2023
Pappy Van Winkle 23 Year Old Bourbon Whiskey 2023 is the crown of the Van Winkle line — a 23-year-old wheated Kentucky straight bourbon bottled at 95.6 proof (47.8% ABV) in 750mL, and one of the oldest American whiskeys on the market. Distilled at Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky from the family's wheated recipe, its barrels are carefully selected from the heart of the warehouse after twenty-three years in new charred American oak. It's available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
- ABV: 47.8% (95.6 proof)
- Size: 750mL
- Age: 23 years, Kentucky straight bourbon
- Mash bill: wheated (wheat as the secondary grain); exact recipe undisclosed
- Distillery: Buffalo Trace Distillery, Frankfort, Kentucky — Old Rip Van Winkle Distillery
- Release: 2023 annual collection, extremely limited
Twenty-Three Years at the Top of the Whiskey World
The 23 Year is the bottle that made "Pappy" a legend — the flagship of the Van Winkle collection and the standard against which ultra-aged bourbon is judged. Wheated where most bourbons are rye-forward, it spends more than two decades in new oak, emerging with a depth that made it the most sought-after bottle in American whiskey. The 2023 release continues the annual, extremely limited tradition. Explore more bourbon whiskey and whisky, or shop the Pappy Van Winkle collection at Del Mesa.
Tasting Notes
Official press-release notes: nose of toasty caramel, soft cream, and nuanced oak with nuts and leather. Palate: vanilla, maple, honey, citrus, and gentle spice at 95.6 proof. Finish: slightly dry, with lingering leather and oak. Wine Enthusiast scored it 96–100 points (retailer-cited).
How to Enjoy
Neat, always — a 23-year-old Pappy deserves nothing between you and it. One small pour, one quiet room.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the proof of Pappy Van Winkle 23 Year 2023?
95.6 proof (47.8% ABV).
Is Pappy 23 a wheated bourbon?
Yes — like all Van Winkle bourbons, it uses wheat instead of rye as the secondary grain; the exact recipe is undisclosed.
How old is the 2023 release?
23 years, aged in new charred American oak — among the oldest American whiskeys sold.
Is the 2023 release limited?
Extremely — the annual Van Winkle allocation is the most allocated whiskey release in the US.
The legend in its 2023 form — Pappy Van Winkle 23 Year is available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.