Could these be your best shots at Pappy, Weller and other great Kentucky bourbons?
If you’re looking for a chance to taste great bourbon and help Kentuckians, then raffles and charity bourbon tastings are an excellent opportunity.
Bourbon raffles are a popular way for Kentucky non-profits to raise money.
Here are three chances to get a sip of rare, expensive bottles that collectors often hoard (if they can find them.)
Two are in November, one is a raffle in December.
BIG Bourbon Night
You can join the hosts of Lexington-based “It’s Bourbon Night” YouTube channel at special tastings at The Heartwood, 1195 Versailles Road #110, on Nov. 9 and 10. Chad Perkins and Sara Ahlgrim launched “It’s Bourbon Night” channel in 2016; now you can enjoy their hospitality ... and help the Marines Corps Reserve’s Toys for Tots annual campaign.
On Nov. 9, there’s also an exclusive E.H. Taylor Barrel Proof Tasting and Dinner, with proceeds benefiting the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research. Tickets are $150 per person, limited to 40 people, and you get to taste six consecutive years of E.H. Taylor Barrel Proof releases, from 2012 through 2017.
On Nov. 10, The BIG Bourbon Night will feature great food by Darae and Friends catering, live entertainment, an outdoor whiskey and cigar lounge and a silent auction with lots of bourbon. Tickets are $150 and limited to 125 people.
Tickets for both events are online at whiskeyambitions.com, under event tickets. Ticket sales close on Nov. 5.
Pappy Van Winkle bourbon raffle
About the only way most people will get a genuine bottle of the much-sought Pappy Van Winkle bourbon is through a charity raffle. Are they pricey? Yes and you might not win a thing (although tickets are often limited to increase your chances.) But you do get the satisfaction of helping a worthy cause.
Here’s one that has a dozen whiskey packages, including one with all six Pappy Van Winkle family bottles. All the bottles were donated by a serious whiskey collector.
The Center for Courageous Kids, which helps kids from Kentucky and around the world with chronic illnesses and other medical diagnoses go to a Scottsville, Ky., camp for free, will announce winners of the raffles at the annual Bowling Green event, Stars & 6 Strings, on Nov. 18. You do not have to be present to win. For more information on how to attend the dinner, email events@courageouskids.org.
The prince for the Grand Prize Raffle of all six Pappy Van Winkle family bottles is $250 a ticket, with only 250 tickets available. You can purchase tickets online at one.bidpal.net/sss23/browse/featured.
The second raffle includes 11 other bourbon packages, including a five-bottle Buffalo Trace Antique Collection, a six-bottle Weller collection, two Van Winkle bottles, two Willett Family Estate bottles, two Stagg bottles, two Angel’s Envy Cask Strength bottles, two Knob Creek bottles, two Weller bottles, three E.H. Taylor bottles, one bottle of Booker’s 30th Anniversary, and one vintage Old Rip Van Winkle Porcelain Decanter 1975 Old Fitzgerald Prime (sealed & full) Collectors Limited Edition Stitzel Weller.
Tickets for the second raffle are $100 and only 1,000 will be sold.
God’s Pantry Food Bank bourbon raffle
The God’s Pantry Food Bank’s Making Spirits Bright Bourbon Raffle has four collections of some of the best bourbons made at Buffalo Trace Distillery.
First prize is the full five-bottle Buffalo Trace Antique Collection, second prize is an eight-bottle set of Blanton’s (the set spells out BLANTONS), third prize is a six-bottle set of Weller and Fourth prize is a five-bottle collection of Buffalo Trace bourbons including Blanton’s Single Barrel, Eagle Rare, E.H. Taylor Jr., W.L. Weller Special Reserve and Buffalo Trace Bourbon.
Tickets are $100 and only 2,000 will be sold. The raffle closes on Dec. 8 and the drawing will be held on Dec. 12. You can buy tickets online at godspantry.org/events/bourbonraffle/.
