Van Winkle Family Reserve 13 Year Old Rye Whiskey 2022
Van Winkle Family Reserve 13 Year Old Rye Whiskey 2022 is the outlier of the Van Winkle line — the only non-wheated expression in the family, a 13-year-old Kentucky straight rye bottled at 95.6 proof (47.8% ABV) in 750mL. Distilled at Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky and aged thirteen years in new charred American oak, it's one of the oldest rye whiskeys on the market from the annual Van Winkle collection. It's available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
- ABV: 47.8% (95.6 proof)
- Size: 750mL
- Age: 13 years, Kentucky straight rye whiskey
- Mash bill: low-rye Kentucky style, estimated ~51% rye (per Uproxx); exact recipe undisclosed
- Distillery: Buffalo Trace Distillery (DSP-KY-113), Frankfort, Kentucky — Old Rip Van Winkle Distillery
- Awards: 2016 Overall Winner, World Whiskies Awards; 2019 Gold, San Francisco World Spirits Competition (official distillery page)
The Only Rye in the Van Winkle Family
Every other Van Winkle bottle is a wheated bourbon — the Family Reserve rye breaks the mold with a low-rye, Kentucky-style mash bill aged a full thirteen years on the cooler, lower floors of Buffalo Trace's metal-clad warehouses, where the tannins never overpower the grain. The Van Winkle whiskeys have been produced at Buffalo Trace since 2002 using the family's recipes, and the rye remains the collection's rarest pour by reputation. Explore more rye whiskey and whisky, or shop the Pappy Van Winkle collection at Del Mesa.
Tasting Notes
Buffalo Trace's official notes: a soft nose of chestnuts, spice, vanilla, and fruit. Flavors of cocoa, vanilla, spice, and white pepper. A long, warm, complex finish with caramel and spice combined with dry oak. Wine Enthusiast rated it 95 points.
How to Enjoy
Neat in a Glencairn — at 95.6 proof and thirteen years, this is a contemplative pour. It also builds a world-class Manhattan or Old Fashioned for a very special occasion.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Van Winkle Family Reserve Rye a wheated whiskey?
No — it's the only non-wheated expression in the Van Winkle line: a Kentucky straight rye with a low-rye mash bill (estimated ~51% rye).
What is the proof of the 2022 Van Winkle rye?
95.6 proof (47.8% ABV).
Who distills Van Winkle rye?
Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky, where the Van Winkle family recipes have been produced since 2002.
How rare is the 2022 release?
Like every Van Winkle release, it's an annual, extremely limited allocation — bottles rarely reach shelves at retail.
The rye that breaks the wheated mold — find the 2022 Van Winkle Family Reserve Rye online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.