Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Old Bourbon Whiskey 2023
Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Old Bourbon Whiskey 2023 — the "Lot B" of Van Winkle lore — is a 12-year-old wheated Kentucky straight bourbon bottled at 90.4 proof (45.2% ABV) in 750mL. Distilled at Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky from the family's wheated recipe and aged a dozen years in new charred American oak, it sits in the sweet spot of the Van Winkle line: deeper than the 10-year, more approachable than its older siblings. It's available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
- ABV: 45.2% (90.4 proof)
- Size: 750mL
- Age: 12 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
- Awards: Double Gold + Best Bourbon, 2013 San Francisco World Spirits Competition; Overall Winner, 2016 World Whiskies Awards (Best Age Statement Bourbon)
Lot B: The Van Winkle Sweet Spot
Among Pappy hunters, the Special Reserve 12 Year — "Lot B" — is the connoisseur's pick: twelve years of wheated bourbon at a gentle 90.4 proof, awarded Double Gold and Best Bourbon at the 2013 San Francisco World Spirits Competition and Overall Winner at the 2016 World Whiskies Awards. It delivers the Van Winkle wheated character with the approachability the 15, 20, and 23 reserve for special occasions. Explore more bourbon whiskey and whisky, or shop the Pappy Van Winkle collection at Del Mesa.
Tasting Notes
Official brand notes: a toffee-forward nose; a palate of caramel, nuts, and brown spice; a long, elegant finish that has drawn comparisons to fine cognac.
How to Enjoy
Neat in a Glencairn is the classic serve — at 90.4 proof it needs no water. A single large cube is the only acceptable alternative.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is "Lot B"?
The trade nickname for Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Old — a colloquialism, not a label statement.
What is the proof of the 2023 Lot B?
90.4 proof (45.2% ABV).
Is it wheated?
Yes — wheat replaces rye as the secondary grain in the Van Winkle family recipe.
What awards has it won?
Double Gold and Best Bourbon at the 2013 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, and Overall Winner (Best Age Statement Bourbon) at the 2016 World Whiskies Awards.
Twelve years, 90.4 proof, pure Pappy — order Van Winkle Special Reserve 2023 online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.