Rare whiskey available to public in limited-release lottery

Pennsylvania residents and licensees will be able to purchase 1,590 bottles of rare whiskey, including 1,440 bottles of highly sought Van Winkle products made in Kentucky, through the state Liquor Control Board’s limited-release lotteries. 

The deadline is 5 p.m. Nov. 18 to opt in to one or more of the drawings by visiting the limited-release lottery web page at FWGS.com. 

Drawings will be held, in the following order, to award the right to buy individual bottles as follows: 

• Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve Straight Bourbon 23-Year-Old 95 Proof, $399.99 each – 27 bottles for individual consumers, nine bottles for licensees 
• Van Winkle Family Reserve Straight Rye Whiskey 13-Year-Old, $159.99 each – 52 bottles for individual consumers, 17 bottles for licensees 
• Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve Straight Bourbon 20-Year-Old 90 Proof, $249.99 each – 81 bottles for individual consumers, 27 bottles for licensees 
• Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve Straight Bourbon 15-Year-Old 107 Proof, $149.99 each – 86 bottles for individual consumers, 28 bottles for licensees 

• Old Rip Van Winkle Handmade Straight Bourbon 10-Year-Old 107 Proof, $89.99 each – 237 bottles for individual consumers, 78 bottles for licensees 
• Van Winkle Special Reserve Straight Bourbon 12-Year-Old 90 Proof, $99.99 each – 599 bottles for individual consumers, 199 bottles for licensees 

There will also be a separate lottery for an additional limited release product. Participants can enter both lotteries, and possibly win the right to purchase one Van Winkle product and this product (for a maximum of two bottles). 

This lottery features Old Forester Birthday Straight Bourbon 2022, $159.99 each – 90 bottles for individual consumers, 60 bottles for licensees. 

Individual consumers and licensees who want to enter must have an active account with FWGS.com with billing information on file. 

Store delivery of limited-release lottery products is required. Winners will be required to show valid photo ID at the store to claim the product. 

Limited-release lotteries are open to Pennsylvania residents and licensees 21 or older who provide a verifiable Pennsylvania billing address and a Fine Wine & Good Spirits store address at registration. 

Paula Wolf is a freelance writer