Sazerac Partners with Van Winkle Family to Auction Pappy Barrel for Relief

The catastrophic destruction caused by the Southern California wildfires has prompted Sazerac Company, one of America’s leading beverage companies, to partner with the Van Winkle family in a rare initiative to auction some of its most coveted spirits. This includes a barrel of 15-Year-Old Pappy Van Winkle, with proceeds going to Sazerac’s California Wildfire Relief Fundraiser.

Jake Wenz, President and CEO of Sazerac, expressed his sympathy: “Our hearts break for those affected by the wildfires devastating California this year. The fires have caused substantial destruction, and the toll on the Los Angeles community is profound. Through this initiative, we hope to support World Central Kitchen and Another Round Another Rally as they provide essential aid to the California community during this difficult time.”

Sazerac is offering "three ultra-rare prizes" in what it calls a "first-of-its-kind fundraiser." These prizes feature some of Buffalo Trace Distillery’s most sought-after bourbons, including Pappy Van Winkle, a brand owned by the Van Winkle family but produced and distributed by Buffalo Trace in a longstanding partnership.

All funds raised will go directly to two nonprofit organizations focused on ongoing relief efforts in California: World Central Kitchen (WCK), which provides meals to those in need in Southern California, and Another Round Another Rally, which offers financial support to hospitality workers impacted by the wildfires.

The three auction items include:

The First-Ever Single Barrel of Pappy Van Winkle 15 Year Old
This barrel, the first to be made available since Sazerac’s partnership with the Van Winkle family in the early 2000s, was specially selected from Buffalo Trace’s aging warehouses. The winning bidder will receive approximately 125 bottles of this exclusive bourbon, with the option to bottle the whiskey as a one-of-a-kind cask-strength Pappy expression. Proceeds will be split between WCK and Another Round Another Rally.

The Pappy Van Winkle Bourbon Collection
A complete set of six unique bourbons from the Pappy Van Winkle brand, including Old Rip Van Winkle 10 Years, Pappy Van Winkle 12 Years, Pappy Van Winkle Family Reserve Rye 13 Years, Pappy Van Winkle 15 Years, Pappy Van Winkle 20 Years, and Pappy Van Winkle 23 Years. All proceeds from the sweepstakes will benefit WCK.

Buffalo Trace Distillery’s Ultra-Rare Eagle Rare 25
This highly coveted bourbon, priced at $10,000 per bottle, is the oldest expression ever released from the Eagle Rare portfolio. It’s aged in Warehouse P, a state-of-the-art, climate-controlled facility, and offers a smooth, complex flavor profile. The funds raised from the sweepstakes will support Another Round Another Rally.

Both WCK and Another Round Another Rally mobilized quickly to assist those affected by the wildfires. WCK, in partnership with over 80 restaurants and food trucks, has already served over 600,000 meals to those impacted. Another Round Another Rally has provided over $100,000 in financial aid to hospitality workers whose livelihoods have been disrupted.

How to Participate
Interested participants can engage in the following ways:

Pappy Van Winkle 15 YO Single Barrel Auction: Bidding starts at $10,000 with increments of $1,000. The auction winner will receive a monetary prize equal to the value of the lot, which can be used to purchase the bottles and the empty barrel. Bidding starts here.

Pappy Van Winkle Bourbon Collection and Eagle Rare 25 Sweepstakes: For every $50 donation, participants will receive one entry into the sweepstakes. There is no cap on donations. The winner of each sweepstakes will receive a monetary prize equal to the value of the bottle they won, which can be used to purchase the bottles. Enter the sweepstakes here.

The Sazerac California Wildfire Relief Fundraiser begins on Tuesday, February 11, at noon EST, and will close on Sunday, February 23, at 11:59 PM EST. One winner for each prize package will be randomly drawn and notified via phone and email the week of February 24. Visit the Sazerac website for the full rules and regulations of the fundraiser.