JULIAN VAN WINKLE

3rd generation distiller with cult-like following

A member of the storied Van Winkle family, Julian Van Winkle, III produces some of the most sought-after and highest-quality bourbon in the world.

Julian Van Winkle, III was born into a bourbon empire. His grandfather Julian “Pappy” Van Winkle, Sr. founded Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve in the early 1900s, operating out of the Stitzel-Weller Distillery in Louisville, Kentucky. The company operated during Prohibition and expanded rapidly after. It was during this time that Pappy Van Winkle bourbons gained a reputation for having exceptional quality and rarity. After Pappy Van Winkle, Sr. died in 1965, his son Julian Van Winkle, Jr. took over. The new owner would focus on specialized decanter sales, as a general interest in bourbon across the country began to wane.

After his father died in 1981, Julian III decided to lead the family business in a new direction. Because the bourbon industry had slowed dramatically at that time, he chose to invest in a new property and begin offering new products. He bought the Old Hoffman Distillery In Lawrenceburg, Kentucky, and in this space he has refined the barrel storage and bottling processes to maintain the unique flavors of the Van Winkle brand.

Before he started leading the company, the Old Rip Van Winkle brand only offered two products. Since he assumed the helm of the family business, he’s added 12-year, 15-year, 20-year and 23-year aged bourbons on the Van Winkle label. With these new offerings, he’s grown the business while staying true to the brand’s top-notch standards.

The early 2000s marked a major turning point for Julian III and his company. As 2001 rolled around, his son Preston joined the leadership team to help modernize the business. Shortly after in 2002, the Van Winkle brand moved from Lawrenceburg to Frankfort, where the Van Winkles joined the Buffalo Trace Distillery. Even though they changed locations, they remain hyper vigilant throughout the production and bottling processes of their most selective bourbons.

For his lifetime of work in advancing the art of bourbon crafting, Julian III received the James Beard Foundation Award for Outstanding Wine and Spirits in 2011. Today, Pappy Van Winkle bourbons continue to be some of the rarest, most expensive, and most treasured spirits on the market.