Pappy Van Winkle 15 Year Old Bourbon Whiskey 2023
Overview
107 proof (53.5% ABV) | 750mL | Aged 15 years | Wheated bourbon distilled by Buffalo Trace
Pappy Van Winkle's 15 Year is the bottle that started the modern bourbon frenzy: a wheated Kentucky straight bourbon, aged a full 15 years and bottled at 107 proof for the 2023 release. Roughly 7,000 bottles made it to market for the 2020 release, and every year the 15 Year vanishes faster than the year before.
If you're looking for rare and allocated bottles, this is the one that anchors the shelf.
Tasting notes
- Nose: Classic Old Rip Van Winkle nose — dried apricot, honey, and warm spice, with that signature wheated-softness.
- Palate: Rich and full — toffee, vanilla, and oak tannin in perfect balance; the higher proof keeps it from ever going soft.
- Finish: Long, warming, and elegant — spice and sweet oak linger.
Why buy it
- 15 years old — a full extra three years over the 12 Year, in the sweet spot of the range
- Wheated recipe — soft, rounded, no rye bite
- 107 proof — full-bodied without being hot
- 2023 release — the current vintage of an icon
How to serve it
Neat in a Glencairn or rocks glass. No water needed — the 107 proof is part of the design.
FAQ
Is this the 2023 release?
Yes — this listing is the 2023 bottling of Pappy 15 Year, 107 proof / 53.5% ABV.
Why is Pappy so hard to find?
Roughly 7,000 bottles of the 15 Year were produced for a recent release, against global demand. Del Mesa gets limited allocations.
How is the 15 different from the 12 or 20?
It's the sweet spot: more developed than the 12, more vibrant than the oak-heavy 20/23.