Thanks for signing up!
Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go.
The 5 best alternatives to Pappy Van Winkle, including one that uses Pappy's exact recipe
When you buy through our links, Business Insider may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more
The bourbon world is obsessed with Pappy Van Winkle. "I think that it's gotten to a point where it's just a little ridiculous," said Jeremy Johnson, the owner of Louisville, Kentucky's Meta bar. Johnson should know: He introduced Pappy Jell-o shots, considered a waste of a fine bourbon by some, and the fallout was extreme.
"I started getting death threats from people," said Johnson. "If you're giving death threats over a bourbon, at that point, you realize that something has probably gone a little too far."
Good luck if you want a bottle of one of Pappy Van Winkle's six varieties. Each state has different rules governing the sale of limited-quantity liquors. Virginia holds a lottery. In other states, long lines wait outside liquor stores for Pappy's annual release. On the secondary market, expect to pay 15 times the retail price.
While Pappy Van Winkle bourbon is a one-of-a-kind item, and half the fun is tracking it down, there are many excellent substitutes. To find the best Pappy Van Winkle alternatives, I tried Old Rip Van Winkle 10 Year and Pappy Van Winkle 20 Year and talked to four experts: Jeremy Johnson; Freddie Johnson (no relation), a popular tour guide for Buffalo Trace Distillery, the makers of Pappy; Fred Minnick, the author of "Bourbon Curious"; and Henry Kwok, the owner of Henry's Place, a bourbon bar in Okemos, Michigan.
Here are the best Pappy Van Winkle bourbon alternatives
Both Freddie Johnson and Fred Minnick pointed out that Weller and Pappy Van Winkle share the same recipe. "Everything is the same. It's just where we age it in the warehouse and how long we leave it there," said Freddie Johnson.
Minnick said there's nothing comparable in taste to Pappy and pointed out that Weller is a "downgrade" because it's younger and hasn't had the opportunity to mature and reach the same level of complexity as Pappy.
There are several Weller bourbons, and as with other Buffalo Trace offerings, they may take a little effort to find. Weller Special Reserve is one of the most popular styles and is often found for not much more than its $25 MSRP. Read our full Weller Special Reserve review here.
Pappy Van Winkle is a wheated bourbon, meaning wheat is a secondary grain used in the mash bill (corn is the primary grain in all bourbons.) Maker's Mark is a popular wheated whiskey, and according to Minnick, it's one of the only bourbons that comes even remotely close to Pappy.
"They have some similarities," said Minnick. "But, that's like saying a minor league baseball pitcher and Clayton Kershaw are both pitchers. It's not the same."
Maker's Mark bourbon pairs well with most foods, according to Minnick. I've tried four different types of Maker's Mark — Maker's Mark, 46, 101, and Cask Strength — and 101 was my favorite because it balanced complexity and smoothness, though it was harsher than the ultra-smooth Pappys I tried. This was especially apparent in the finish. Pappy is the better sipper.
If you're looking for a somewhat rare bottle to hunt, Minnick recommends Elijah Craig Barrel Proof. "In terms of the limited edition stuff that's available, one of the best things out there is Elijah Craig Barrel Proof," said Minnick. "To me, it's a big-ticket win if you get that at a store. I would personally buy that."
I've had the opportunity to try two Elijah Craig Barrel Proof expressions. Both were aged 12 years, but they had very different proofs. The first is from batch C921 with a proof of 120.2. I liked the sweet flavors: vanilla, caramel, and butterscotch. The finish was short, sweet, and warm. The second I tried is only available at Heaven Hill's Bardstown location. The proof was 133.2; the finish was also more prolonged and a little harsh. It had the same sweetness but added hints of campfire.
The smokiness of the higher-proof Elijah Craig was evocative of Pappy Van Winkle 20 Year, and both had a caramel sweetness on the nose that is also present in Pappy. But the higher-proof Elijah Craig didn't have the smooth finish, and neither had the subtle fruit and oak notes of Pappy.
Jeremy Johnson has had several varieties of Pappy and doesn't think it's worth its current secondary market prices. He has found bourbons that have aged 8 to 12 years hit the sweet spot of maturity. Any more than that, and you're getting too much of the barrel taste in there, he says. Wild Turkey's Russell's Reserve, a 10-year bourbon, is one of his favorites.
Jeremy Johnson also recommended Wild Turkey101 Rye Whiskey. "I think that a lot of people don't realize how good Wild Turkey's rye is," said Jeremy Johnson. "But, either one, they're non-filtered and really, really, truly special American whiskeys."
I think Russell's Reserve 10 Year is one of the best bourbons on the market. It has an outstanding balance of sweet and spice. On the nose, maple syrup comes through, along with citrus and vanilla. Taking a sip, it dances on the tongue, taste buds pinging with delight. I caught vanilla, caramel, and baking spices, including notes of pumpkin pie. The finish is long and delicious.
While Old Rip Van Winkle 10 Year has spice to it, Russell's Reserve is more pronounced and less balanced. It also has maple syrup and citrus notes that aren't present in Pappy.
Kwok recommended Eagle Rare as a good accessible alternative to Pappy. I'm glad he did because it was the best bourbon I tried when I visited eight distilleries on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail.
Eagle Rare is another Buffalo Trace offering, and thus, you may not be able to find it on shelves. Fortunately, it's nowhere near as rare as Pappy and is for sale online at a reasonable price.
I like Eagle Rare because it coats the tongue with flavor while remaining smooth. It's sweet, with caramel notes leading the way. The finish is long, slow, and pleasantly sweet. This is an excellent neat sipper. The flavor is similar to Pappy, but it lacks the same complexity. With Pappy, I got fruity notes and a hint of cocoa. That wasn't present in Eagle Rare.
If you take one fact away from this article, it should be that Pappy Van Winkle is a one-of-a-kind American whiskey — a "unicorn" in whiskey circles. While these Pappy alternatives may seem like mere "horses" in comparison, they're ideal for daily sipping and will tide you over while you continue your Pappy hunt.
Check out more bourbon coverage:
- I tried Pappy Van Winkle, the bourbon that resells for thousands of dollars more than it costs, and I'm convinced it's overhyped
- I toured 8 distilleries on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail – here are the 16 best whiskeys I tried and where to buy them
- I roadtripped the Kentucky Bourbon Trail and stayed in an Airbnb that used to be a distillery. Here's a look inside.
Advertisement